Pakistan’s unstable governance is headed to lose another region, which seems to be happening soon. Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan, aimed to be an independent state over the suppression and destruction of Pakistan. Baloch claims that Pakistan is exploiting this province’s wealth, and there is no equal distribution policy. This region is a potential land mass of natural resources, but Baloch people are still struggling without basic infrastructure like proper roads, educational institutions, water facilities, and primary health care centres. The Baloch are nearly 1.5 crores population of Pakistan. All the ethnic people unilaterally voiced for their freedom from the sinking Pakistan.
Since 1947, Balochistan has neither wanted to join India nor become an independent state, however Indian administration has not agreed to integrate Balochistan with India because of practical and security difficulties. So, Baloch intended to be an Independent state, but then leader of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jina, completed the Prince of Baloch Mir Ahmad Yar Khan to join Pakistan, but they rejected the offer later the Pakistan government used force to capture the King of Baloch and made an agreement of Balochistan integration with main land of Pakistan. Immediately Baloch province assembly voided the decision of Mir Ahmad Yar Khan with Pakistan, but nothing reversed.
This prolonged agitation claims that “Baloch do not belong to Pakistan”, proclaimed its freedom on 14th May 2025. Surprisingly, this self-proclamation comes during the intensive combat between India and Pakistan. However, it was not a new announcement from the Balochs last 70 years; they were trying to separate themselves from Pakistan, but in all previous incidents, they became a victim of geo-political play. Although this time the approach is completely different, the educated Baloch are using soft power to gather people’s support for this movement, and on the other side, BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army), using hard power, goes for a full-scale attack on the Pakistani soldiers. BLA’s militant tactics overshadow the Pakistan armed forces, and they struggle to compete with them. Most of the Pakistani police and soldiers are afraid to be posted in the Baloch region, because of the BLA’s particular attacks on Pakistani-Punjab executives.
Five Major Conflicts against the Pakistan government by the Balochistan Nationalists
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The Princely State of Kalat acceded to Pakistan (1948-1950)
In 1948, rebels rebelled against Pakistan and for an Independent state. In this conflict, more than 1000 militants in revolt captured Jhalawan and launched attacks until 1950. It ended up in Pakistan’s forces’ recaptured area, and the rebels suffered heavy casualties.
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Pakistan’s “One Unit Scheme” led to conflict (1958-59)
Then the Pakistan government decreased the representation for tribal leaders in the national governance, in the name of a scheme called “One-Unit”, and the last Khan of Kalat, Ahmed Yar Khan, was removed from power. This completely suppressed the Baloch political representation, which led to a guerrilla war by Nawab Nauroz Khan and 1000 armed Baloch rebels, demanding the abolition of this discriminatory scheme and the release of Ahmed Yar Khan. Thai issues resulted in forced surrender after the peace talks, and the Pakistani government agreed to release their leader, but that did not happen as they had promised. 160 insurgents were sentenced, and Nawab Khan’s son, nephew were hanged for treason charges. It was considered a backstab of the Pakistan government against the Balochs.
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Pakistan’s New Constitution (1956-1969)
The new constitution of 1956 limited the provincial autonomy of Balochistan, and the Pakistan army built new bases in the Balochistan region. This delimitation strategy and armour control implanted separatist ideas among Baloch nationalists. On the other hand, militants started to build their bases, and to convey their agitation, they bombed railway tracks, ambushed bureaucrats’ convoys. In response Pakistan army started retaliation against militants by destroying their camps, bombing the villages and the violence killed several innocents. At the end, Baloch separatists agreed to a ceasefire after an amnesty was granted.
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Rise of Baloch militants (1973-1977)
The Baloch separatist movement gained momentum in the 1960s and later became a greater threat to the Pakistan armed forces. The continued four-year military conflict between the Pakistan army and Baloch separatists has been evidence of their rise after the Baloch provincial government was dismissed by the Pakistani establishment, becoming a vital problem for Pakistan. To control people, Pakistan imposed martial law against the Baloch; on the other hand, the Balochistan People’s Liberation Front began guerrilla warfare against the administration. This turned into the worst demise because the Pakistan force was assisted by the Iranian administration, which resulted in 3,300 Pakistani troops, 5,300 militants, and thousands of innocent civilians losing their lives for no reason in this combat.
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Pakistan’s no-mercy continued against Baloch leaders (2006-Present)
- 2006- Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch leader killed by the Pakistan armed forces.
- 2009- Baloch Nationalist leader Ghulam Muhammad Baloch abducted and killed.
- 2010- Armed clash between Insurgents and the security forces of Pakistan.
- More than 5000 forced disappearances reported against Baloch.
Balochistan’s renewed call for independence is at a crucial point in the crumbling internal order of Pakistan. Coupled with militant resistance at the state level with organized grassroots efforts, and the Baloch movement is no longer a marginal struggle for more autonomy, it is a clear push for independence that Islamabad can no longer dismiss.
