The history
of relations between the Pakistani state and the Baloch people has been marked
by deep mistrust, political conflicts, and a series of events that Baloch view
as a pattern of broken promises and deception.A central
point in Baloch political narratives is the incorporation of the Khanate of
Kalat into Pakistan in 1948. The Khanate of Kalat had maintained a distinct
status during the transition from British rule, and negotiations took place
between the Khan of Kalat and Pakistani leaders regarding its future between
Kalat state and Pakistan as two neighboring states. However, Pakistan used its
military force against Khan of Kalat for the accession. It was under political
and military pressure rather than through a genuinely free decision.
The early event that contributed to Baloch mistrust was the uprising of
Prince Agha Abdul Karim Khan, the younger brother of the Khan of Kalat, Mir
Ahmad Yar Khan. Shortly after the accession of Kalat to Pakistan in 1948, Agha
Abdul Karim opposed the decision and moved to the mountains with supporters,
demanding the preservation of Baloch autonomy and political rights.
After a period of resistance, he and his companions entered negotiations
with the authorities. he was given assurances regarding his safety and a
political resolution. However, after surrendering, he was arrested and
sentenced to imprisonment, and the episode became one of the earliest examples
cited by Baloch nationalists as evidence that political assurances given by the
state could not be trusted.
The events
following the 1958 uprising of Nawab Nauroz Khan remain one of the most painful
memories in Baloch history. Nawab Nauroz Khan and his companions were persuaded
to come down from the mountains after assurances of safety, including appeals
made in the name of the Quran. After their surrender, several of his companions
were sentenced to death, while Nauroz Khan died in prison. For many Baloch,
this episode became a symbol of broken trust between the state and Baloch
leadership.
In 1973, the
dismissal of the elected government of Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal in
Balochistan further deepened political resentment. The federal government
removed the provincial government, imposed governor's rule, and a violent
conflict followed between state forces and Baloch insurgents. Baloch political leadership
considered this an example of the denial of democratic rights, while the state
justified its actions through allegations of security concerns.
Decades
later, the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in 2006 became another defining
moment. Negotiations were taking place between Bugti and government
representatives, including political figures such as Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
and Mushahid Hussain Sayed. However, the conflict escalated, and Nawab Bugti
was killed during a military operation in Kohlu. For entire Baloch nation, this
event reinforced the belief that negotiations with the state could end in
betrayal rather than a political solution.
Beyond these
historical events, the question of transparency remains a major concern.
Independent journalists, researchers, and international observers have
repeatedly faced difficulties accessing parts of Balochistan freely.
Restrictions on information, security limitations, and competing political
narratives have made it difficult for the outside world to fully understand the
realities on the ground.
From the
Baloch perspective, this lack of transparency has emboldened Pakistani miliary
to continue the ugly practice of enforced disappearances, human rights
violations, and political repression across occupied Balochistan. The Baloch nation
believes that they have been the victims of decades of military policies,
conflict, and a lack of meaningful political dialogue.
The
accumulated experiences of the past decades have created a profound crisis of
trust. For Baloch political activists, the issue is not only about individual
incidents but about a historical pattern in which promises, agreements, and
negotiations have repeatedly failed to produce a lasting result.
The future
of relations between the state of Pakistan and the Baloch people no more a
question of reset future relations, but when Pakistan is going to withdraw its
forces from Balochistan as Baloch have crossed the Rubican River.
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