Balochistan — the Struggle
Balochistan has been in the limelight since last few decades, not because of it being the source of valuable resources such as natural gas, minerals, precious stones, coal, fruits, etc. or due to its strategic location bordering Afghanistan and Iran. Rather due to the consistent insurgency which has not only changed the future of the province from an independent province to a military driven province, with that have also put up many question marks on the analogous systems of clan and tribal loyalties to the writ of law and order. The settlements within Balochistan accumulate from various tribes and clans of different ethnic backgrounds which include Punjabis, Pushtuns, Balochis, Brohi and a small percentage of Urdu-speaking population.
The tribal system in Balochistan is a historically evolved political, social and cultural construct further instilled by repeated military suppression campaigns. The Baloch nationalism is based on secular principles with tribal and clan loyalties playing a crucial role in determining identities among the locals. However clan and tribal loyalties is not a new system being practiced in Pakistan, relatively have been very much prevalent and considered as one of the finest system to create balance within the tribal areas, until the tussle between the state control backfired the tribal setup, by means of different centrist policies and military operations over the many years.
During partition, when the fate of different states was being decided in preference of their either being part of Pakistan or India, Balochistan immediately became part of Pakistan, followed by the princely states of Makran, Kharan, Las Bhela and Khanate of Kalat, who acceded later in 1948. The introduction of One Unit Program in 1954 by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Bogra changed the nature of Pakistani politics dramatically, creation of a single provincial entity that subsumed all the administrative units of West Pakistan, including all princely states was one of the most significant political developments for Balochistan’s politics since its accession to Pakistan. The Program was met with great resistance and grievances from all four provinces, until it was abolished by Yahya Khan in 1970 which led to recognition of Balochistan as the fourth province of Pakistan.
Since then, Pakistan as a state is following the Federal System of Government, where the center holds much more autonomy and decision-making power than the units. Due to the centralist tendencies and discriminatory attitude particularly towards the smaller units of the federation have triggered viviparous tendencies among their inhabitants and in the absence of a meaningful and result oriented approach have been one of the major reasons of conflict between the center and units. The hallowed principles of federalism lost its meaning and validity when successive governments, be it elected or military rule of the country devoid of political sagacity and historical insight failed to follow up in latter and spirit. As a result, Pakistan have not been able to emerge as a single political entity, which is an essential per-requisite for bringing together its ethno-linguistic groups and create among them an unfettered sense of belonging as part of the state.
The long standing resentment towards federal policies have been the main causes of five major insurgencies in 1948, 1958, 1963–1969, 1973–1977 and the turmoil in the name of ‘War in Terror’ brought in many state and non-state actors into Balochistan, who have further aggravated the socio-political dynamics of an already volatile province. The on-going insurgencies have led to death of many Baloch natives, leaders, chieftains and soldiers of Pakistan Army. The negative effects of insurgencies have helped in maintaining and sustaining terrorist groups and militia in the province which have become a potential threat over the sovereignty and stability of the state.
Today Balochistan is engraved in many problems at all levels due to imposed so-called modernization and development from above, lack of participation by the natives always aroused resistance which was answered by the successive governments via army operations within the province. Some of alarming problems being faced by Balochistan are high rate of illiteracy, lack of infrastructural development, tribal instability, counter terrorism, target killing and suicide bombing on Shia Hazara Community, missing Balochs, illegal trade and smuggling, to name a few.
Both government and tribal & clan chieftains need to work together for the betterment of the people; the natives need to be involved in the process through their active participation in local and provincial politics, introduction of much more employment programs, due share in the natural resources being extracted, assurance of education to all, justice and equity provision need to be given and sustained to change the nature of political and social setup within Balochistan. The people throughout the country need to be aware of the fact that the struggle being played in Balochistan today, however remote it may appear at first glance from our day to day lives is our common struggle for democracy and federalism, arguably the only means by which the country can be kept together. Thereby justice and equity within the federating units help in allay the bitterness of smaller nationalities, tribes and clans.
