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The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express train on Tuesday. Many Pakistani soldiers along with Pakistani citizens were also travelling in this train. This accident has once again refreshed the story of the struggle of Balochistan. This attack is another form of Pakistan’s terror, which it has been carrying out on Balochistan for many decades.
So let us know how Balochistan got independence and how Pakistan forcibly occupied this country which was independent for only 25 days and wrote the story of its destruction. Along with this, we will also try to understand the role of India in this merger.
History of Balochistan
Balochistan is the largest and mineral-rich area of Pakistan, but the people here have been victims of oppression, discrimination and atrocities of the Pakistani army for decades. The demand for independence is continuously getting stronger here. This also raises the question whether Balochistan can become the next Bangladesh of Pakistan? Because the history of Balochistan has been controversial since the time of partition of India and Pakistan.
Balochistan was a princely state
After the end of British rule in 1947, Balochistan was an independent state. Under some treaties here, this country was included in the princely states which were not directly ruled by the British Crown. Such princely states were free to take their own decisions. These princely states had the right to merge with either India or Pakistan or even declare themselves an independent nation.
Balochistan was divided into four parts
Balochistan had four major parts. Kalat, Kharan, Los Bula and Makran. However, when the time for partition came, except Kalat, the other three chose Pakistan but Kalat was not ready to go with Pakistan. Kalat’s Khan Mir Ahmed Khan wanted independence.
After the departure of the three princely states, the pressure on Kalat to go with Pakistan was increasing, although Kalat clearly refused to go with Pakistan. Kalat replied to Pakistan saying that like Afghanistan and Iran, our culture is also different from Pakistan. Just because we are Muslims we do not become Pakistanis.
Forced to sign
Pakistan was not put off by Kalat’s attitude, rather the matter escalated. On 28 March 1948, Jinnah ordered the Pakistani army to attack Kalat. Seven Baloch regiments led by commanding officer Major General Akbar Khan attacked Kalat the very next day. The Khan of Kalat was kidnapped and taken to Karachi where he was forced to sign the merger document.
In this way, after 25 days of independence, Kalat merged with Pakistan. This merger was done with the help of the army, so some organizations of Balochistan have been continuously demanding independence. These sparks keep smoldering every now and then and Pakistan blames India for this. Balochistan is the largest area of Pakistan in terms of area.
Understand that 44% of Pakistan’s area is in Balochistan, however, only 5% of the population lives here. Balochistan has reserves of copper, gold and uranium. Pakistan’s three naval bases are in Balochistan. Not only this, Pakistan became a nuclear power by conducting nuclear tests in a place called Chagai in Balochistan.
Balochistan is rich in minerals
There is no dearth of resources in this area of Pakistan. The gas released from this area causes fire in the houses of Pakistan but the people of Balochistan are not getting any benefit from it. Pakistan has been controlling this area with the help of force. The agitators here also clash with Pakistani soldiers from time to time.
The Pakistani army has always tried to crush the Baloch movement with force. In the years 1950, 1970, 2006 and in recent years, the Pakistani army had tried to crush the Baloch separatist movements many times. At the same time, the murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006 further fuelled the rebellion.
The army started making people disappear
Not only this, the Pakistani army has been accused of making people fighting for the Baloch campaign disappear and secretly killing them. In March 2007, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan presented a list of 148 Baloch people before the Supreme Court there who had suddenly disappeared and even their relatives did not know anything about them.
Recently, the Baloch Voice Association appealed to the United Nations to thoroughly investigate the cases of forced disappearance of people in Balochistan and hold the criminals accountable for their actions. According to the latest data of the year 2022, 787 people have disappeared from Balochistan, friends, including 101 women and children. The situation here has become so bad that it is being called the next Bangladesh of Pakistan. However, now the Baloch Army has blown the bugle against the Pakistani Army.
Economic plight of Balochistan
Balochistan is 44% of the total area of Pakistan, but its contribution to its GDP is only 3%. Half of Pakistan’s gas needs are met from Balochistan, but the people there themselves are away from basic facilities. The oppression of the Pak Army is so much that the people of Balochistan are put in jails without any legal process. Many Baloch leaders have been demanding an investigation of Pakistan’s atrocities from the United Nations and other international organizations.
What is the connection of the attack with China?
China is developing the Gwadar port, which is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Baloch rebels believe that this project will not benefit the local people and their resources are being looted. Due to these increasing activities of China, the Baloch rebels are targeting the Gwadar port and the CPEC project. They consider it the imperialist policy of Pakistan and China.
Relations between India and Balochistan
Balochistan has deep cultural ties with India. The Hinglaj Mata Temple, which is one of the Shakti Peethas, is located here. Apart from this, Balochistan has historically been a part of Indian civilization. Many ancient remains of Buddhism have also been found in Balochistan. Historically, it was part of the Gandhara civilization, which was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas of India. Organizations like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) are demanding independence and are constantly attacking the Pakistani army. Pakistan repeatedly accuses India of supporting these rebels.
