Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most volatile province, has been at the heart of a decades-long armed rebellion for independence. The latest escalation occurred on 11 March, when militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express, a passenger train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar.
The attackers blew up railway tracks, halting the train in a remote tunnel. Over 400 passengers, including security personnel, were on board. As fears of suicide bombers guarding the hostages mounted, a prolonged gunfight erupted between the rebels and Pakistani forces.
The BLA demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners and civilians allegedly kidnapped by state forces, threatening to blow up the train if their demands were not met within 48 hours. However, within 30 hours, Pakistani forces stormed the site, killing 33 militants and rescuing the hostages. The clash resulted in the deaths of at least 21 passengers and four security personnel.
Balochistan: Marginalisation, Resistance and Exploitation
Balochistan has long struggled with marginalisation and separatist movements. Annexed by Pakistan in 1948, six months after India's Partition, the region has faced political suppression and resource exploitation. Despite its vast mineral wealth, Balochistan remains the poorest province in Pakistan, with revenues benefitting the federal government rather than local communities.
Historically, the British used Balochistan as a strategic base to protect their colonial interests but opted for a non-interference policy in the 19th century. However, after Pakistan pressured Baloch leaders into merging with the country, resentment and separatist movements intensified.
Armed groups like the BLA and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) have targeted security forces and China-funded projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar Port, hoping instability would pressure China to intervene.
The conflict has worsened in recent years due to human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances of activists and civilians. Allegations of government oppression and lack of local inclusion continue to fuel resistance.
Jinnah’s Betrayal and the Forced Annexation of Kalat
Balochistan was initially declared an independent state alongside India and Pakistan, comprising four princely states—Kharan, Makaran, Las Bela, and Kalat. While the first three joined Pakistan, the Khan of Kalat, Mir Ahmed Yar Khan, chose independence. Jinnah initially accepted Kalat’s sovereign status, and the Khan trusted him to honour this agreement.
However, Kalat was not as strategically important as Kashmir or Hyderabad, making it a lesser priority. Despite recognising Kalat’s independence, British officials claimed it lacked the capability to function as an independent state. On 12 September 1947, Britain issued a memorandum stating Kalat was not fit for self-rule, giving Pakistan justification for annexation.
In October 1947, Jinnah urged the Khan to merge with Pakistan, but he refused, insisting that tribal leaders be consulted. "As Baluchistan is a land of numerous tribes... I take, according to the common tribal convention, no decision, which can be binding upon them unless they are taken into confidence by their Khan," he said.
The Khan sought military aid from Britain in December 1947, but his request for arms was denied, as London required Pakistan’s approval. He also tried to rally support from Baloch leaders, but most sided with Pakistan.
On 18 March 1948, Jinnah unilaterally announced the accession of Kharan, Makaran, and Las Bela, isolating Kalat. False reports that the Khan wanted to join India further angered Pakistan. With no international support and mounting pressure, the Khan had no choice but to accede to Pakistan.
Taj Mohammad Breseeg, in Baloch Nationalism: Its Origin and Development up to 1980, describes how Pakistan used coercive measures to force Kalat’s merger. Many Baloch sardars aligned with Pakistan, leaving the Khan politically and militarily powerless. The annexation of Kalat in 1948 marked the beginning of Balochistan’s long struggle for autonomy, fuelling decades of resistance.
The Struggle Continues
The forced integration of Kalat into Pakistan led to a series of Baloch uprisings. The first rebellion, led by Prince Abdul Karim in 1948, was quickly crushed, and he was arrested.
Discontent grew further in 1955 when Pakistan’s One-Unit Plan merged Balochistan with West Pakistan, intensifying feelings of neglect. In 1958, the Khan of Kalat, Nawab Nauroz Khan, declared independence but was deceived into surrendering in 1959. He later described witnessing his men being killed indiscriminately during the military crackdown.
A third major rebellion erupted in 1963, led by Sher Muhammad Bijrani Marri (General Sherof), demanding the withdrawal of Pakistani troops and the restoration of Balochistan as a unified province. The insurgency ended in 1969 when General Yahya Khan replaced Ayub Khan and signed a truce. In 1970, the One-Unit Plan was scrapped, and Balochistan was officially recognised as a province.
The movement resurged in 2005 when Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a former defence minister and Balochistan’s ex-governor, demanded greater control over the province’s resources. His defiance led to his assassination in 2006, allegedly orchestrated by General Pervez Musharraf. Days later, Musharraf narrowly survived a retaliatory rocket attack.
Bangladesh’s Independence and Balochistan’s Armed Struggles
The independence of Bangladesh in 1971 inspired Baloch leaders to demand greater autonomy, but Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto rejected their calls, leading to mass protests. In 1973, Bhutto dismissed the provincial government of Akbar Khan Bugti and launched a large-scale military operation under the pretext of uncovering arms allegedly meant for Baloch rebels.
This triggered a full-scale armed uprising, known as the fourth Balochistan conflict, lasting four years. Around 55,000 Baloch tribesmen, led by the Marri, Mengal, and Bugti tribal heads, fought against 80,000 Pakistani troops. The Pakistan Air Force bombed villages, killing thousands of civilians. Iran, fearing the spread of Baloch nationalism, provided military support to Pakistan.
The conflict ended in 1977 when General Zia-ul-Haq ousted Bhutto in a coup. The new regime granted amnesty to Baloch fighters and withdrew troops from Balochistan.
A fifth conflict erupted in the mid-2000s after a military officer allegedly raped a Baloch woman doctor. This led to intensified attacks on security forces and infrastructure, but Pakistan remains unwilling to meet Baloch demands.
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