Baloch nationalism
Encyclopedia
Baloch nationalism is a movement which claims that the Baloch people
, an ethno-linguistic group mainly found in Pakistan
, Iran
and Afghanistan
are a nation. The movement propagates the view that Muslims are not a nation (the opposite of the concept behind the creation of Pakistan) and that ethnic loyalty must surpass religious loyalty.
The Baloch nationalist movement's demands have ranged from greater cultural, economic and political rights, to political autonomy, to outright secession from Pakistan and the creation of an independent state of Balochistan. The movement is secular and heavily influenced by leftist Marxist ideology, like its other counterparts in other parts of Pakistan and India, leaning towards anti-Islamism.
In Pakistan, there have been several uprisings by Baloch nationalists that have all been suppressed by the Pakistan military (see: Balochistan conflict
).
The Baloch nationalist movement includes not only speakers of the Balochi language
, but Baloch leaders have tried to absorb the Brahui people
of Balochistan, the ancient-most civilization of Balochistan, in the movement too as land populated by the Brahuis is vital for a separate Balochistan to survive.
The Baloch nationalist movement claims to receive considerable support from the Baloch diaspora
in Oman
, the UAE, Sweden
, Norway
, and other countries. Pakistan has repeatedly made claims that the Baloch nationalists have received funding from India
, although these have been refuted by India
and the US.
Baloch nationalism in its modern form began in the form of the Anjuman-e-Ittehad-e-Balochan (Organisation for Unity of the Baloch) based in Mastung
in the 1920s, led by Yousaf Aziz Magsi, Abdul Aziz Kurd
and others. The aim of the group was to establish political and constitutional reform in the State of Kalat
; end of British imperialism; abolition of the sardar
i-jirga
system; and for the eventual unification of all Baloch lands into an independent state. Simultaneously with the formation of the Anjuman, Baloch intellectuals in Karachi
formed a nationalist organisation, called the Baloch League.
In February 1937, the Anjuman reorganised and became the Kalat State National Party
, carrying on the Anjuman's political agenda of an independent united state of Balochistan. The party was dominated by more secular-minded, anti-imperialist and populist elements, such as Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, Mir Gul Khan Naseer
and Abdul Aziz Kurd. When parliamentary elections were held in the State of Kalat, the party was the largest winners with a considerable majority.
Parliamentary elections were held in the state, in which the Kalat State National Party
won a majority. However, Baloch(or Kalat) nationalists insist that the government forced the Khan to sign the Instrument of Accession
on March 27, 1948. The move was condemned by the Kalat parliament, which saw itself weakening as a legislative body, and, in July 1948, the Khan's brother, Prince Abdul Karim, led the first armed revolt against the Pakistani government. The prince was originally a powerful governor of parts of Kalat, but that position ended with accession to Pakistan. Many Former British Colonies abolished Principality of the Colonial Era
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
, an ethno-linguistic group mainly found in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
are a nation. The movement propagates the view that Muslims are not a nation (the opposite of the concept behind the creation of Pakistan) and that ethnic loyalty must surpass religious loyalty.
The Baloch nationalist movement's demands have ranged from greater cultural, economic and political rights, to political autonomy, to outright secession from Pakistan and the creation of an independent state of Balochistan. The movement is secular and heavily influenced by leftist Marxist ideology, like its other counterparts in other parts of Pakistan and India, leaning towards anti-Islamism.
In Pakistan, there have been several uprisings by Baloch nationalists that have all been suppressed by the Pakistan military (see: Balochistan conflict
Balochistan conflict
The Balochistan conflict is an ongoing conflict between Baloch nationalists and the Government of Pakistan over Balochistan, the country's largest province...
).
The Baloch nationalist movement includes not only speakers of the Balochi language
Balochi language
Balochi is a Northwestern Iranian language. It is the principal language of the Baloch of Balochistan, Pakistan, eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. It is also spoken as a second language by some Brahui. It is designated as one of nine official languages of Pakistan.-Vowels:The Balochi vowel...
, but Baloch leaders have tried to absorb the Brahui people
Brahui people
The Brahui or Brohi are ethnic Baloch group of about 2.2 million people with the majority found in Kalat, Baluchistan, Pakistan, but they are also found in smaller numbers in neighboring Afghanistan and Iran. The Brahuis are almost entirely Sunni Muslims.-Origins:The ethnonym "Brahui" is a very...
of Balochistan, the ancient-most civilization of Balochistan, in the movement too as land populated by the Brahuis is vital for a separate Balochistan to survive.
The Baloch nationalist movement claims to receive considerable support from the Baloch diaspora
Baloch diaspora
The Baloch diaspora refers to Baloch people, and their descendants, who have emigrated to places outside of the Balochistan region of South-Central Asia — a region stretching from southwestern Pakistan, southern Afghanistan and Southeastern Iran...
in Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
, the UAE, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and other countries. Pakistan has repeatedly made claims that the Baloch nationalists have received funding from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, although these have been refuted by India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and the US.
Modern Baloch nationalism
Mastung
Mastung may refer to:* Mastung District* Mastung Valley* Mastung, Pakistan...
in the 1920s, led by Yousaf Aziz Magsi, Abdul Aziz Kurd
Abdul Aziz Kurd
Abdul Aziz Kurd was an early leader of the Baloch nationalist movement in Balochistan. Along with Yousaf Aziz Magsi he founded the Anjuman-e-Ittehad-e-Balochan based in Mastung in 1920 as the first Baloch nationalist political party.-See also:* Kurd...
and others. The aim of the group was to establish political and constitutional reform in the State of Kalat
State of Kalat
Kalat or Qalat was a princely state located in the centre of the modern province of Balochistan, Pakistan. The state capital was the town of Kalat.-Geography:The State of Kalat was located between 25°1′ and...
; end of British imperialism; abolition of the sardar
Sardar
Sardar is a title of Indo-Aryan origin that was originally used to denote feudal princes, noblemen, and other aristocrats. It was later applied to indicate a Head of State, a Commander-in-chief, and an Army military rank...
i-jirga
Jirga
A jirga is a tribal assembly of elders which takes decisions by consensus, particularly among the Pashtun people but also in other ethnic groups near them; they are most common in Afghanistan and among the Pashtuns in Pakistan near its border with Afghanistan...
system; and for the eventual unification of all Baloch lands into an independent state. Simultaneously with the formation of the Anjuman, Baloch intellectuals in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
formed a nationalist organisation, called the Baloch League.
In February 1937, the Anjuman reorganised and became the Kalat State National Party
Kalat State National Party
The Kalat State National Party was a Baloch nationalist political party in Balochistan in the princely state of Kalat. It was formed in February 1937, emerging out of the re-organization of the Anjuman-e-Ittehad-e-Balochan. Among its leadership were Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, Mir Gul Khan Nasir and...
, carrying on the Anjuman's political agenda of an independent united state of Balochistan. The party was dominated by more secular-minded, anti-imperialist and populist elements, such as Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, Mir Gul Khan Naseer
Mir Gul Khan Naseer
Mir Gul Khan Nasir, also widely regarded as Malek o-Sho'arā Balochistan was a prominent politician, poet, historian, and journalist of Balochistan, Pakistan. Born on 14 May 1914 in Noshki, Gul Khan Nasir was at the forefront of the Baloch Nationalist Movement and was most active between 1935 to 1980...
and Abdul Aziz Kurd. When parliamentary elections were held in the State of Kalat, the party was the largest winners with a considerable majority.
Independent Balochistan
Under the partition agreement, reached shortly after Mountbatten published his June 3 Plan, most of Balochistan had already joined Pakistan, by treaties or tribal referendum, but the Khan of Kalat, a state which was around 23% of modern Baluchistan, wanted to be the ruler of an independent, albeit land locked state. Eventually a Standstill Agreement was reached between the two parties and the British Viceroy. Following the talks, a communique was issued on August 11, 1947 stating that:
- The Government of Pakistan recognizes Kalat as an independent sovereign state in treaty relations with the British Government with a status different from that of other princely states.
- Legal opinion will be sought as to whether or not agreements of leases will be inherited by the Pakistan Government.
- Meanwhile, a Standstill Agreement has been made between the Government of Pakistan and the Khan of Kalat.
- Discussions will take place between Pakistan and Kalat at Karachi at an early date with a view to reaching decisions on Defence, External Affairs and Communications(currency was not mentioned as it was understood that the Pakistani Rupee
Pakistani rupeeThe rupee is the currency of Pakistan. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the State Bank of Pakistan, the central bank of the country. The most commonly used symbol for the rupee is Rs, used on receipts when purchasing goods and services. In Pakistan, the rupee is referred to as the...
was to be used in Kalat, as a successor to its previous currency,the British Indian Rupee).
Parliamentary elections were held in the state, in which the Kalat State National Party
Kalat State National Party
The Kalat State National Party was a Baloch nationalist political party in Balochistan in the princely state of Kalat. It was formed in February 1937, emerging out of the re-organization of the Anjuman-e-Ittehad-e-Balochan. Among its leadership were Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, Mir Gul Khan Nasir and...
won a majority. However, Baloch(or Kalat) nationalists insist that the government forced the Khan to sign the Instrument of Accession
Instrument of Accession
The Instrument of Accession was a legal document created in 1947 to enable each of the rulers of the princely states under British suzerainty to join one of the new dominions of India or Pakistan created by the Partition of British India.-Background:...
on March 27, 1948. The move was condemned by the Kalat parliament, which saw itself weakening as a legislative body, and, in July 1948, the Khan's brother, Prince Abdul Karim, led the first armed revolt against the Pakistani government. The prince was originally a powerful governor of parts of Kalat, but that position ended with accession to Pakistan. Many Former British Colonies abolished Principality of the Colonial Era
See also
- Secessionist movements in Pakistan
- Baloch National FrontBaloch National FrontThe Baloch National Front is a political alliance of eight Baloch nationalist organizations who are against parliamentary political participation in Pakistan. The BNF was formed in February 2009...
- Baloch Liberation Army
External links
- Baloch Nationalism: Its Origin and Development, Taj Mohammad Breseeg, 2004
- The Resurgence of Baluch Nationalism, Frederic Grare, Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceCarnegie Endowment for International PeaceThe Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States...
, Paper No. 65, January 2006 - Balochistan's history of insurgency
- Pakistan: The Worsening Conflict in Balochistan, International Crisis GroupInternational Crisis GroupThe International Crisis Group is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to prevent and resolve deadly conflicts around the world through field-based analyses and high-level advocacy.-History:...
, Asia Report N°119, 14 September 2006