Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most resource-rich province, has long been a region marked by conflict, political unrest, and feelings of marginalization. While Balochistan covers about 44% of Pakistan’s landmass, it is home to only 5% of the country’s population. The province is endowed with rich natural resources such as natural gas, oil, coal, and minerals, yet it remains Pakistan’s most underdeveloped region. The relationship between Balochistan and the central government of Pakistan has been fraught with tension since the country’s inception in 1947, and the handling of Balochistan has often involved coercive state measures, limited economic development, and a general sense of exclusion among the Baloch people.
Before the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Balochistan was not a unified administrative unit. The region was divided between princely states, the most prominent being Kalat, and British-administered territories. The princely states enjoyed a degree of autonomy, while the British indirectly ruled the region through local rulers and tribes. The Khan of Kalat was the most significant figure in Balochistan’s political structure, and Kalat had signed a treaty with the British that recognized its sovereignty in return for British defense. When Pakistan was established in 1947, Balochistan’s integration into the new state was controversial. The Khan of Kalat initially sought independence, citing the region’s history of autonomy and its distinctive ethnic and cultural identity. However, following pressure from Pakistan’s central government, Kalat was forced to accede to Pakistan in March 1948. This annexation left a deep scar on the Baloch consciousness, sowing the seeds of resentment that have grown into several insurgencies over the decades.
The Baloch people viewed the forced annexation as a violation of their right to self-determination, and the perception that Balochistan’s resources were being exploited without adequate compensation or representation in the national government further exacerbated their discontent. The Baloch people have historically seen themselves as distinct from the rest of Pakistan’s population, with their own language, culture, and tribal structure. The central government in Pakistan, however, has often treated Balochistan as a peripheral region, focusing primarily on extracting its natural resources rather than investing in the development of its people.
The first Baloch uprising occurred immediately after Balochistan’s forced accession to Pakistan in 1948. The Khan of Kalat’s brother, Prince Abdul Karim, led the revolt, demanding greater autonomy for Balochistan. However, the insurgency was quickly crushed by the Pakistani military. This marked the beginning of a cycle of rebellions and government crackdowns that would continue for decades. In 1958, the central government of Pakistan, under the rule of President Iskander Mirza and later General Ayub Khan, dissolved the provincial governments and merged Balochistan with other provinces into a single administrative unit called West Pakistan. This move, known as the One Unit Policy, was highly unpopular in Balochistan. It centralized power in Islamabad and further alienated the Baloch leadership. The second Baloch insurgency followed, led by Nawab Nauroz Khan, a tribal leader who took up arms against the central government. However, this rebellion was also suppressed, and Nauroz Khan and his followers were arrested. Nauroz Khan’s sons were executed, further deepening the Baloch mistrust of the central government.
The most significant and prolonged insurgency took place in the 1970s under Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The dismissal of the elected government of Balochistan in 1973 and the subsequent imposition of direct federal rule triggered another armed uprising. The Baloch Nationalists, supported by some external powers like the Soviet Union, demanded greater autonomy, control over their natural resources, and political representation. Bhutto’s government responded with a heavy military crackdown, deploying tens of thousands of troops to suppress the insurgency. The conflict lasted for four years, resulting in thousands of deaths, mostly of Baloch rebels but also of civilians caught in the crossfire. Although the insurgency was eventually quashed, the military operation left a legacy of bitterness that continues to fuel the Baloch nationalist movement today.
The early 2000s saw a resurgence of the Baloch insurgency, which remains ongoing. Several factors have contributed to the renewed conflict, including the discovery of natural gas and other resources in the province, the construction of major infrastructure projects like the Gwadar port, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.The Gwadar port, located on Balochistan’s southern coast, is a major infrastructural project that has the potential to transform the province into a hub of international trade. The port is a key part of CPEC, a multi-billion-dollar initiative aimed at improving connectivity between China and Pakistan. While the central government in Islamabad touts these projects as bringing prosperity to Balochistan, the local population feels sidelined.
The Baloch people argue that they have not been consulted in the planning of these projects and that the economic benefits are being funneled to other parts of Pakistan. Moreover, the influx of non-Baloch workers from other provinces has stoked fears of demographic change, further alienating the Baloch population. The central government’s handling of these issues has only intensified the sense of marginalization and fueled calls for greater autonomy or even independence. Since the early 2000s, the Pakistani government has relied heavily on military force to deal with the insurgency in Balochistan. Under the presidency of General Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistani army launched a series of operations to crush the insurgency. In 2006, the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a prominent Baloch nationalist leader, by the Pakistani military, marked a turning point. Bugti’s death sparked widespread protests and further intensified the insurgency.
The military’s heavy-handed approach has been criticized for human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the displacement of civilians. Thousands of Baloch activists, journalists, and political leaders have been abducted, often by security forces or intelligence agencies, in what is known as the “missing persons” crisis. The government has justified these actions as necessary to combat separatism and terrorism, but they have only deepened the divide between Balochistan and the central government. The conflict in Balochistan has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis. Years of neglect, military operations, and political instability have left the province in a state of chronic underdevelopment. Balochistan has the highest poverty rates in Pakistan, with limited access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
The “missing persons” issue has gained international attention, with human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch calling on the Pakistani government to investigate and end enforced disappearances. The Baloch diaspora has also played a significant role in raising awareness of the Baloch cause on the global stage. However, the Pakistani government has dismissed these concerns, often labeling Baloch activists as terrorists or foreign agents. In recent years, there have been attempts to address some of Balochistan’s grievances. The Pakistani government has initiated several development projects aimed at improving the province’s infrastructure and economy. In 2009, the government introduced the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package, which promised greater political autonomy and economic investment in the region. However, the implementation of these initiatives has been slow, and many Baloch remain skeptical of the government’s intentions.
The insurgency shows no signs of abating, and sporadic violence continues to erupt between Baloch separatist groups and the Pakistani military. The Balochistan Liberation Army , one of the most active separatist groups, has carried out attacks on infrastructure, military installations, and even Chinese workers involved in CPEC projects. The handling of Balochistan by Pakistan has been marked by a cycle of rebellion, repression, and unfulfilled promises of development. The central government’s focus on resource extraction and strategic infrastructure projects, without addressing the core issues of political representation, economic justice, and cultural autonomy, has only deepened the province’s sense of alienation. Moving forward, any lasting solution to the Baloch issue will require a more inclusive approach that genuinely addresses the grievances of the Baloch people. The government must go beyond military solutions and prioritize dialogue, political reforms, and equitable distribution of resources. Only then can the decades-long conflict in Balochistan be resolved, paving the way for peace and stability in Pakistan’s most restive province.
