BALOCHISTAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE

WHAT IS BALOCHISTAN?

🔖 Balochistan is presently situated between the three nations; Pakistan🇵🇰 , Iran🇮🇷 , and Afghanistan🇦🇫 . It is located in southwest Pakistan, south to Afghanistan and east of Iran.

🔖 Balochistan province of Pakistan has been divided into six divisions– Quetta, Kalat, Nasirabad, Makran, Sibi, and Zhob. These six divisions are further subdivided into 34 districts.

🔖The economy💸 of Balochistan is mainly based upon the production of natural gas, coal and other minerals like gold, copper, etc.

🔖Agricultural 🌾development could not take place due to the absence of power, water, and adequate transportation facilities.

HISTORY OF BALOCHISTAN

🔖The area of Balochistan has been under the control of Persian, Afghans, Iranians, Mughal, Sikhs, British and the also the locals Sardars of that region.

🔖 It is generally believed that the traditional Balochi period came into existence in 12th century when the Baloch formed powerful tribal unions. After many attempts to organise the Baloch into one group, Khan of Kalat has proved to be the most successful and Kalat has been the centre of Baloch nationalism.

🔖When Balochistan came under the British control the Bolan Pass (connecting Balochistan to Afghanistan) was guarded by a strong garrison above the pass at Quetta and neighbouring Baloch tribes were control through British subsidize to their chief. But the Britishers never really attempted to govern the Balochis directly.

🔖 On 14 August 1947the Pakistan was divided from India and the province of Balochistan is geographically fell in the part of Pakistan after the creation of Pakistan, Khan of Kalat declared his is state independent but this happiness of independence state is very short.

🔖 On 27 march, 1948 the armed forces of Pakistan were mobilized to lunch an operation against the Khan of kalat and on 28 March, 1948 khan of kalat was captured by Pakistan.

IMPORTANCE OF BALOCHISTAN FOR PAKISTAN

🔖The Balochistan province is very rich in natural resources it has the country’s longest coastline and largest natural gas reserve and contains a large array of resources like coal, zinc, lead, Copper, Gold, oil etc.

🔖The Gwadar port holds great strategic and economic importance for Pakistan. It is a deep sea port located at cross junction of international sea shipping and oil trade routes.

🔖CPEC was proposed by China to connect Gwadar port to *Chinese province of Xinxiang* . The estimated cost of project is *46 billion-dollar* this project was signed between Pakistan and China in April 2015.

REASONS FOR FREEDOM STRUGGLE

🔖 The root causes of movement are that Balochistan lacks basic facilities like education👨‍🏫 hospitals🏥 etc.

🔖 The Pakistan government started many new policies against Balochi freedom fighters, they marginalised the Baloch in his own territory.

🔖 The government of Pakistan has never fulfilled the requirement of Baloch in politics, military etc.

🔖 The Gwadar deep port and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are also the causes of movement in Balochistan. Baloch leaders feel that one day, Balochistan will be a colony of China. So the separatist organisations like Balochistan Republican Party, Balochistan Liberation front etc. fight for the independence of Greater Balochistan.

INDO-BALOCH RELATIONS

🔖 India is slowly but steadily pushing the thinly-populated but troubled Baloch region of Pakistan, the country’s biggest province by land area, to break away to become a sovereign nation.

🔖Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided the spark in his 2016 Independence Day speech from the courtyard of historic Red Fort in New Delhi. In that speech, Modi sent his greetings to “ the people of Balochistan, Gilgit [and] Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” a major shift in policy, which caused outrage in Islamabad, where the words were viewed as an infringement on Pakistani sovereignty.

🔖 “We need India’s friendship, support and help,” Marri said(founder of free Balochistan movement)