The struggle for independence in Balochistan, which is divided into three between the borders of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, has never ended. Until the 19th century, Balochistan, which was a whole until the end of the 19th century, was divided into three by Britain between the current Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. In 1928, Iran occupied the western part of Balochistan, while the eastern part remained under British control until the establishment of the state of Pakistan in 1947 and was governed on the basis of autonomous structures. Baloch are most densely populated in Pakistan.

 

Balochistan's uprising against the central government of Pakistan began in 1946 with the demand for independence by Mir Ahmad Yar Khan, who ruled the Principality of Kalat. Mir Ahmad Yar Khan appointed his advisor Muhammad Ali Jinnah to defend the cause of independence before the British Crown. When the dates showed 4 August 1947, Jinnah, the last Governor of India, Lord Mountbatten, and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru held a meeting in which Kalat's independence was accepted. The day after the meeting (5 August), an agreement was reached that the Principality of Kalat would be independent, and with Jinnah's initiatives, work began on the establishment of an independent Baluchistan by annexing the principalities of Kharan and Las Bela to Kalat. An agreement was signed between the Principality of Kalat and the Muslim League on 11 August 1947, which stipulated that the Principality of Kalat would be recognised as an independent state and the independence of Balochistan would be respected. On 15 August, the Principality of Kalat declared its independence.

 

MEMORANDUM OF ENGLAND

 

While the Principality of Kalat was awaiting the return of the lands as per the agreement with Britain, the British issued a memorandum on 12 September stating that Kalat was not in a position to assume the responsibility of an independent state. With the memorandum, India and Pakistan were officially recognised as states. Pressure increased on the Balochistan principalities to join Pakistan. While the principalities of Kharan, Las Bela and Makaran agreed to become Pakistani territories, the Principality of Kalat under Mir Ahmed Yar Khan chose independence. Unable to take the Principality of Kalat through diplomatic means, Pakistan invaded the region with its army on 26 March 1948. The Principality of Kalat, which was militarily powerless to resist, had to accept becoming a Pakistani territory. Balochistan was officially colonised. However, Baloch people have been struggling to protect their identity and existence with the resistance they have been waging since 1948. Most recently, Mir Yar Baloch, one of the Baloch leaders, applied to the United Nations (UN) on 14 May for an independent Balochistan and the independence of the country was declared.

 

Mir Yar Baloch spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about the struggle.

 

'BALOCHISTAN IS VICTIM OF BRITISH COLONIAL IMPERIALS'

 

Mir Yar Baloch said that Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a legal adviser to Mir Ahmad Yar Khan, who ruled the Principality of Kalat, but Jinnah betrayed the government. Stating that before the military invasion, the people and leaders of Balochistan unanimously rejected the proposal of unification in the state of Pakistan:

 

“Balochistan is victim of British colonial imperials; they deliberately divided the territories into different regions. British diplomat and civil servant Sir Mortimer Durand in 1893 signed an agreement with Afghanistan’s ruler at that time Amir Abdur Rehman Khan. The Durand Line Agreement was signed in 1893 between Sir Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat and civil servant representing British India, and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, the ruler of Afghanistan. The Durand Line agreement divided the people of Afghanistan and Balochistan but the government of Afghanistan did not renew the agreement after its 100 years and still is not accepted by the both sides of the people. The pioneer of the ongoing Balochistan freedom movement, honorable Hyrbyair Marri in many occasions reiterated that his people are ready to exchange the territories between Afghanistan and Balochistan because the Durand Line agreement is not accepted by the both sides. He still considers some Afghanistan’s territories incorporated into Balochistan."

 

REPRESSION INCREASES IN PAKISTAN

 

Mir Yar Baloch said that after the declaration of independence, Pakistan's pressure gradually increased: “Now the world has to step in and support the Balochistan’s defensive forces to force Pakistan to vacate the territories of Balochistan. Indeed, the atrocities of Pakistan’s invading forces are on its peak. Today we have received information that three previously abducted people have been killed extra judicially and their mutilated dead bodies are thrown on road sides in District Barkhan area of Rukni. There are multiple reports of Pakistan’s fighter jets bombing in remote areas of PoB, and Pakistani military is mobilizing across Balochistan. People are being abducted and put behind the bars without any due legal process. The situation is worse than 1971 of Bangladesh." 

 

STRUGGLE TOGETHER WITH WOMEN

 

Mir Yar Baloch pointed out that women played an important role in the Balochistan Freedom Struggle: “Our women are being arrested and tortured,” said Mir Yar Baloch added armed struggle continue as well as political struggle. 

 

Mir Yar Baloch said: “BLA believe that Pakistan has fighter jets, tanks, bombs, missiles and utilizing military power to suppress the voices of Baloch so a military is defeated by the military. BLA enjoys the support of the Baloch people because every common Baloch consider BLA as savior and guardian of their soil. The protests are being organized by Baloch civil rights groups and their primary objectives are to expose Pakistan’s widespread atrocities in PoB." 

 

'MUST BE RECOGNIZED'

 

Underlining that Balochistan is historically older than Pakistan, Mir Yar Baloch emphasised that they will resist for Pakistan to recognise Balochistan and withdraw from the occupied territories.  Mir Yar Baloch concluded:  “Pakistan from day one adopted terrorism and Jihadism as a tool of its foreign policy. Islamabad is war profiteer and it always benefited from regional conflicts. Balochistan is extremely important region with trillions pound of rare earth minerals, must be recognized as an independent state. ” 

 

MA / Berivan Kutlu