For decades on end, the people of Balochistan have had their unique social identity and rich cultural history overlooked or oversimplified in the Pakistani mainstream. The quintessential example of this is last year’s hit song ‘Wajah’ by the pop sensation Shehzad Roy. Under the overarching — almost malevolently ubiquitous — façade, the song tried desperately to present Balochistan as a breath-taking land of gorgeous landscapes.
While it most certainly is that, there lies a deeper and bloodier truth which has been grossly plastered over by the contours of hyper-capitalism, as evidenced by the corporate commodification of the song itself in a great show of pizzazz. This oversight can be attributed, in part, to the tumultuous and volatile history of the province, which dates back to the partition of the subcontinent and the incredibly mismanaged mess left over by the empire. Then again, this should come as no surprise as the post-colonial shadows of the Raj tend to haunt almost every corner of the subcontinent.
During this period, the question of whether Balochistan should align with Pakistan or India sparked fervent debate and contention. The ruler of the province, Mir Ahmad Yar Khan, who himself served as an agent of the British Intelligence Service (talk about colonial shadows) was thus abetted in his assumption of the Khanate of Kalat by the Raj to counter growing left-wing sentiments within the province which were conveniently labelled as “Neo-Marxist” out of a fear of the increasingly influential Russia, ultimately made the decision to join Pakistan with the assistance of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who had served as his legal aid in the early 1940s.
However, the incorporation of Balochistan into Pakistan was not without its challenges and complications. Many within the province opposed the decision and advocated for independence, leading to numerous armed conflicts over the subsequent years.
One prime example of this being the widespread, and commonly reported, exclusion of the local Baloch workforce in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with either Chinese or migrant Pakistani workers being favoured more often than not.
One group that has consistently and vocally opposed Pakistani rule is the Balochistan Liberation Army, a left-wing or what the British would call “Marxist” organization that has been active in the province since the turn of the 21st century. With 2021 and 2022 being the years the BLA has been at its most active, it is necessary to shed a more pertinent light on not only the groups history which can be traced back to the Baloch ethnonationalist insurgency movements on the 70’s. A key aspect the mainstream media needs further to focus upon with respect to the BLA itself is to not constellate it with other terror and insurgent groups operating within the country, but to rather contrast it’s ideals and history to these organisations to formulate a cognition of an enemy which has claimed the lives of dozens, if not hundreds, of citizens this last year alone.
Another solution is for the Pakistani government to address the longstanding grievances of the Baloch people alongside the cultural and sociological complexities specific to the region, which simply cannot be solved by blanket policies applicable to other parts of the country but rather to have individual, specifically tailored frameworks to amplify development within the region.
The tumultuous history of Balochistan has left a lasting and indelible mark on the province, with numerous residents feeling marginalized and oppressed by the Pakistani government and thus paving the way for extremist sentiments to arise. The lack of infrastructure and economic development in the region has only served to exacerbate these issues, leaving many in the province feeling left behind and forgotten.
One prime example of this being the widespread, and commonly reported, exclusion of the local Baloch workforce in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with either Chinese or migrant Pakistani workers being favoured more often than not. What was once promised to be a cornerstone of Baloch economic development has mostly just been a 46-billion-dollar venture which has done all but alleviate the plight of the Baloch people. An example of this being the fact that the corridor itself has caused a mini migrant crisis in Balochistan due to its displacement of multiple homes, villages, and rural lands.
However, there are those who believe that there are solutions to the issues facing the province that could potentially lead to a lasting peace. One potential solution is to grant the province greater autonomy, giving the Baloch people more agency in their own affairs. This could involve increasing representation of the province in the national government and devolving more power and resources to the local level. A rudimentary first step could be capacity building measures to ensure the increased involvement of Baloch people in both provincial and federal mega projects such as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Another solution is for the Pakistani government to address the longstanding grievances of the Baloch people alongside the cultural and sociological complexities specific to the region, which simply cannot be solved by blanket policies applicable to other parts of the country but rather to have individual, specifically tailored frameworks to amplify development within the region.
This could involve working with local leaders to identify and address the specific challenges facing the province, such as a lack of access to education, healthcare, and other basic services.
Furthermore, a more practical understanding of the hierarchal dynamics of the province would be pivotal as this would pave a way for non-Baloch public office holders posted in the province to understand the complexities of the region and address its problems in a much more holistic manner. Thus, Baloch exposure to the mainstream which adequately delves into its culture, its history and its problems is pivotal.
Ultimately, achieving a lasting peace in Balochistan will require a joint effort by both the Pakistani government and the people of the province. By working together and addressing the root causes of the problem, identifying its contemporary prevalence, and dealing with it both contextually and appropriately and most important of all being cognizant and aware of the various issues which plague the region and not just glossing over them.
At the end of the day, this land with its exuberant culture, stunning landscapes and rich history is that but also much more than that. It’s not simply a fairy-tale land tucked far away from the ever-present issues of a more ethno-Punjabi Pakistan, but it is Pakistan and its problems are without a doubt Pakistan’s problems.
