Balochistan Crisis - a history

 

   A brief view into the history of Balochistan let us know that Baloch nationalists movements started in the middle of 17^th century from the Khanate of Kalat. Later invasions of British in the region somehow managed the control over Baloch territories and set up a British primacy there. The tribal areas came under the direct administration of British Agent with some areas governed by local political agents as well. In the middle of the 20^th century an educated Baloch middle class came up with the idea of Independence from British rule. Finally the southwestern region of Balochistan became a part of Pakistan with the promises of Baloch autonomy over the region.

 

Sepratists raise a flag of their own, can Pakistan tackle?

 

         Three out of four British governed princely states of Balochistan joined with Pakistan in 1947 but the Khan of the Kalat claimed independence and refused to come to terms with Pakistan. The Pakistan, however, formally annexed the area. The younger brother of the Khan of Kalat refused to lay down the arms and committed attacks on the army. Later the armed resistance against One Unit Policy accompanied with the attacks on security forces. The third wave of conflict emerged after the constitution of 1956 which reduced the provincial autonomy. At that time the federal government ordered the army to establish several bases in key areas of Balochistan. The Mengal and Bugti tribal areas covering 72000 km of land offered an armed resistance and attacked on rails, roads and envoys. Yahya Khan – abolished the one unit policy and granted Balochistan the status of fourth province of Pakistan. However, the unrest continued in 1970s culminating with the orders of a military operation in Balochistan in 1973.

 

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