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Unpacking The Historical Truth: Balochistan’s Accession To Pakistan – OpEd

The myth of Balochistan as an independent state before partition that was occupied by Pakistan forcibly is not a true one. This notion sustains the current insurgencies and the continuing fight for self-rule in the area. But, the historical facts are quite contrary to this perception; the fact is that Balochistan joined Pakistan willingly and its representatives of that time were also in favor of joining Pakistan. This article is an attempt to correct the misconceptions and give a historical background of Balochistan joining Pakistan. Before 1947, the area that is now called Balochistan was not a single entity but a collection of states. It was divided into several different entities under the British influence. The British had some measure of control over various regions in Balochistan such as the Khanate of Kalat, Makran, Kharan, and Lasbela. The British Administration had thus developed a web of treaties and agreements that sought to assimilate these areas into their colonial system. In 1933, the British transferred the administrative control of Lasbela and Kharan to the Khan of Kalat but those areas were not part of the Kalat State. However, the British Crown did not accept this proposal of the Khan to be a “Non-Indian state” and continued to maintain the status of Kalat as a subordinate state of the British Raj. The Kalat Treaty of 1875 was also significant in determining the status of the Khanate’s relationship with the British Crown. According to this treaty, the Khan of Kalat accepted British prominence and Kalat was subjected to important restrictions on its sovereignty. There was a ban on having an independent military force, conducting foreign policies, laying down railways or engaging in foreign trade. The Khan was also required to provide taxes and manpower to the British for their military operations, when needed. The British Political Agent Sir Robert Sandeman played a key role in laying down those terms that made this region a part of British-controlled India. To comprehend the ethnic structure of Balochistan, it is necessary to understand the history of its governance. The region’s population is diverse: Baloch people constitute about 35% of the population, while Brahvis are 17% and Pashtuns are another 35%. The other people are of other ethnics in equal proportions, that is 16. 7% of the total population. In the past, this demographic ratio has been quite balanced, which means that the region is ethnically and culturally diverse. The reality here is contrary to what the separatists in Balochistan claim, the Khan of Kalat was essentially a British puppet on varying degrees. In 1903 the Khan along with Nawabs of Makran and Kharan and Jam of Lasbela was invited to the Imperial Court Delhi, which was a symbolic recognition of their subordination to the British system. For instance, Sarwan and Jhalwan were part of the Administration of Kalat, which shows that the Khan did not have much power. Thus, when Pakistan appeared as an independent state in 1947, it was the outcome of the negotiations and agreements between the British Crown and some of the princely states. Balochistan’s accession to Pakistan was part of this process as well. The change in the region was made possible by the fact that the leaders of the region such as the Khan of Kalat accepted the new political order. The notion that Balochistan was an independent state which was occupied by Pakistan is a blatant lie. It is evident from the historical documents and treaties that like other princely states Balochistan was under British paramountcy and was merged into Pakistan, as part of the process of decolonization. The myth of Balochistan’s freedom prior to 1947 is a distortion of history. The integration of the region into Pakistan was a colonial continuation under British rule and treaties and agreements that determined its status. It is important to know this history to be able to solve the conflicts that are still present and to contribute to the more realistic representation of Balochistan in Pakistan. Nevertheless, Balochistan has witnessed federal investment and development activities in the course of time. For instance, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that is a large-scale infrastructure project involves significant investments in Balochistan especially in the Gwadar port region. The Planning Commission of Pakistan has reported that more than $60 billion has been committed to CPEC projects out of which a significant amount has been planned for Balochistan to improve infrastructure and economic development. This is one of the federal initiatives aimed at correcting regional disparities despite the fact that some critics have claimed that the gains have not been well spread. Many political leaders from Balochistan have served important positions in the Pakistani political system and have tried to solve regional problems and to represent the Balochistan province. Senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar is a Baloch politician who has actively raised voice for Balochistan’s development and political freedom, and was the caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2023. Likewise, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, having political association with Balochistan, was the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs and has been quite vocal for the province. Other prominent figures include Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari, the former President of Pakistan, Jaam Kamal Khan, the current Federal Minister for Commerce, Senator Abdul Qadir Baloch, Mir Sadiq Sanjrani; the first ever chairman Senate to hail from province of Balochistan. These leaders are important in influencing the discourse on Balochistan’s growth and its place in the federation and trying to close the gap between the perception and the reality of the province’s interaction with the federal government.