Balochistan, Pakistan

Map showing the sites and extent of the Indus Valley civilisation. Mohenjo-Daro and Mehrgarh were among the centres of the Indus Valley Civilisation in the modern-day province. Balochistan marked the westernmost territory of the civilisation, which was one of the most developed in the old Bronze Age in the world.

Balochistan occupies the very southeasternmost portion of the Iranian Plateau, the setting for the earliest known farming settlements in the pre-Indus Valley civilisation era, the earliest of which was Mehrgarh, dated at 7000 BCE,[10] within the province. Balochistan marked the westernmost extent of civilisation. Centuries before the arrival of Islam in the seventh century, parts of Balochistan were ruled by the Paratarajas, an Indo-Scythian dynasty. At certain times, the Kushans also held political sway in parts of Balochistan.

The Hindu Sewa Dynasty ruled parts of Balochistan, chiefly Kalat.[11][12] The Sibi Division, which was carved out of Quetta Division and Kalat Division in 1974, derives its name from Rani Sewi, the queen of the Sewa dynasty.[13]

The remnants of the earliest people in Balochistan were the Brahui people, a Dravidian speaking people. The Brahuis retained the Dravidian language throughout the millennias.[14]

Although during the Stone and Bronze Age and Alexander the Great's empire an indigenous population existed, the Baloch people themselves did not enter the region until the 14th century CE.[15] A theory of the origin of the Baloch people, the largest ethnic group in the region, is that they are of Median descent.[16]

In 654, Abdulrehman ibn Samrah, governor of Sistan and the newly emerged Rashidun caliphate at the expense of Sassanid Persia and the Byzantine Empire, sent an Islamic army to crush a revolt in Zaranj, which is now in southern Afghanistan. After conquering Zaranj, a column of the army pushed north, conquering Kabul and Ghazni, in the Hindu Kush mountain range, while another column moved through Quetta District in north-western Balochistan and conquered the area up to the ancient cities of Dawar and Qandabil (Bolan).[17] It is documented that the major settlements, falling within today's province, became in 654 controlled by the Rashidun caliphate, except for the well-defended mountain town of QaiQan which is now Kalat.

During the caliphate of Ali, a revolt broke out in southern Balochistan's Makran region.[18] In 663, during the reign of Umayyad Caliph Muawiyah I, his Muslim rule lost control of north-eastern Balochistan and Kalat when Haris ibn Marah and a large part of his army died in battle against a revolt in Kalat.[19]

In the 15th century, Mir Chakar Khan Rind became the first Sirdar of Afghan, Iranian and Pakistani Balochistan. He was a close aide of the Timurid ruler Humayun, and was succeeded by the Khanate of Kalat, which owed allegiance to the Mughal Empire. Later, Nader Shah won the allegiance of the rulers of eastern Balochistan. He ceded Kalhora, one of the Sindh territories of Sibi-Kachi, to the Khanate of Kalat.[20][21][22] Ahmad Shah Durrani, founder of the Afghan Empire, also won the allegiance of that area's rulers, and many Baloch fought under him during the Third Battle of Panipat. Most of the area would eventually revert to local Baloch control after Afghan rule.

A historical sketch of Bolan Pass, Balochistan, Pakistan

In 1876, northern Baluchistan became one of the Presidencies and provinces of British India in colonial India.[23] During this time from the fall of the Durrani Empire in 1823, four princely states were recognised and reinforced in Balochistan: Makran, Kharan, Las Bela and Kalat. In 1876, Robert Sandeman negotiated the Treaty of Kalat, which brought the Khan's territories, including Kharan, Makran, and Las Bela, under British protection, even though they remained independent princely states.[24] After the Second Afghan War was ended by the Treaty of Gandamak in May 1879, the Afghan Emir ceded the districts of Quetta, Pishin, Harnai, Sibi and Thal Chotiali to British control. On 1 April 1883, the British took control of the Bolan Pass, south-east of Quetta, from the Khan of Kalat. In 1887, small additional areas of Balochistan were declared British territory.[25] In 1893, Sir Mortimer Durand negotiated an agreement with the Amir of Afghanistan, Abdur Rahman Khan, to fix the Durand Line running from Chitral to Balochistan as the boundary between the Emirate of Afghanistan and British-controlled areas. Two devastating earthquakes occurred in Balochistan during British colonial rule: the 1935 Quetta earthquake, which devastated Quetta, and the 1945 Balochistan earthquake with its epicentre in the Makran region.[26] During the time of the Indian independence movement, "three pro-Congress parties were still active in Balochistan's politics apart from Balochistan's Muslim League", such as the Anjuman-i-Watan Baluchistan, which favoured a united India and opposed its partition.[27][28]

Quetta Railway Station

In British-ruled Colonial India, Baluchistan contained a Chief Commissioner's province and princely states (including Kalat, Makran, Las Bela and Kharan) that became a part of Pakistan.[29] The province's Shahi Jirga (the grand council of tribal elders[30]) and the non-official members of the Quetta Municipality,[31] according to the Pakistani narrative,[32]^: 80 agreed to join Pakistan unanimously on 29 June 1947;[31] however, the Shahi Jirga was stripped of its members from the Kalat State prior to the vote.[32]^: 81 The then-president of the Baluchistan Muslim League, Qazi Muhammad Isa, informed Muhammad Ali Jinnah that "Shahi Jirga in no way represents the popular wishes of the masses" and that members of the Kalat State were "excluded from voting; only representatives from the British part of the province voted and the British part included the leased areas of Quetta, Nasirabad Tehsil, Nushki and Bolan Agency."[32]^: 81 Following the referendum, on 22 June 1947 the Khan of Kalat received a letter from members of the Shahi Jirga, as well as sardars from the leased areas of Baluchistan, stating that they, "as a part of the Baloch nation, were a part of the Kalat state too" and that if the question of Baluchistan's accession to Pakistan arise, "they should be deemed part of the Kalat state rather than (British) Balochistan".[32]^: 82 This has brought into question whether an actual vote took place.[32]^: 82 Political scientist Salman Rafi Sheikh, in locating the origins of the insurgency in Balochistan, says "that Balochistan's accession to Pakistan was, as against the officially projected narrative, not based upon consensus, nor was support for Pakistan overwhelming. What this manipulation indicates is that even before formally becoming a part of Pakistan, Balochistan had fallen a prey to political victimization."[32]^: 82

Initially aspiring for independence,[31] the Khan of Kalat finally acceded to Pakistan on 27 March 1948 after period of negotiations with Pakistan.[33] The signing of the Instrument of Accession by Ahmad Yar Khan led his brother, Prince Abdul Karim, to revolt against his brother's decision due to their family rift.[34] in July 1948.[35] Princes Agha Abdul Karim Baloch and Muhammad Rahim refused to lay down arms, leading the Dosht-e Jhalawan in unconventional attacks on the army until 1950.[34] The Prince indulged in Terror activities without any assistance from others.[36] Jinnah and his successors allowed Yar Khan to retain his title until the province's dissolution in 1955.

Insurgencies by Baloch nationalists took place in 1948, 1958–59, 1962–63 and 1973–77, with a new ongoing insurgency by autonomy-seeking Baloch groups since 2003.[37][38] While many Baloch support the demand for autonomy, the majority are not interested in seceding from Pakistan.[39]

At a press conference on 8 June 2015 in Quetta, Balochistan's Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti accused India's prime minister Narendra Modi of openly supporting terrorism. Bugti implicated India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of being responsible for recent attacks at military bases in Smangli and Khalid, and for subverting the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement.[40][41][42]

Gwadar, a region of Balochistan was a Colony of Oman for more than a century and in the 1960s, Pakistan took over the land. Many people in this region are therefore Omani.[43]

The climate of the upper highlands is characterised by very cold winters and hot summers. In the lower highlands, winters vary from extremely cold in northern districts Ziarat, Quetta, Kalat, Muslim Baagh and Khanozai, where temperatures can drop to −20 °C (−4 °F), to milder conditions closer to the Makran coast. Winters are mild on the plains, with temperatures never falling below freezing point. Summers are hot and dry, especially in the arid zones of Chagai and Kharan districts. The plains are also very hot in summer, with temperatures reaching 50 °C (122 °F). The record highest temperature, 53 °C (127 °F), was recorded in Sibi on 26 May 2010,[45] exceeding the previous record, 52 °C (126 °F). Other hot areas include Turbat and Dalbandin. The desert climate is characterised by hot and very arid conditions. Occasionally, strong windstorms make these areas very inhospitable.

Divisions of Balochistan

Note: In this map, Lehri is shown within Sibi District on #27. Sohbatpur and Usta Muhammad is shown within Jafarabad District on #8.Hub is shown within Lasbela District on #17.

For administrative purposes, the province is divided into seven divisions: Kalat, Makran, Nasirabad, Quetta, Sibi, Zhob and Rakhshan. This divisional level was abolished in 2000, but restored after the 2008 election. Each division is under an appointed commissioner. The seven divisions are further subdivided into 36 districts:[46][47]

As of June 2021, there are eight divisions. The eighth division, Loralai Division was created by bifurcating Zhob Division.[48]

According to the preliminary results of the 2017 census, the languages with the most native speakers in the province are Balochi, spoken by 35.49% of the population, and Pashto, whose share at 35.34% is a marked increase on the 1998 census, when it stood at 29.6%. The Pasthuns mainly inhabit the north of Balochistan and form the majority in Quetta. Baloch on the other hand are found throughout Balochistan, but most highly concentrated in the west and south of the province. Brahui is spoken by 17.12% mainly in the central part of Balochistan. Other languages include Sindhi (4.6%), Saraiki (2.7%), Punjabi (1.1%), and Urdu (0.81%).[59][58]

Balochi forms the majority in 21 districts and Pashto forms majority in 9 districts of Balochistan.[60] Brahui has majority in 4 districts. In the Lasbela, Hub districts and in Kachhi plain region a large minority of the population speaks Lasi and Siraiki,[61] which are dialects of Sindhi.[62]

According to the Ethnologue, households speaking Balochi, whose primary dialect is Makrani constitutes 13%, Rukhshani 10%, Sulemani 7%, and Khetrani 3% of the population. Other languages spoken are Lasi, Urdu, Punjabi, Hazargi, Sindhi, Saraiki, Dehvari, Dari, Tajik, Hindko, Uzbek, and Hindki.[59]

The 2005 census concerning Afghans in Pakistan showed that a total of 769,268[63] Afghan refugees were temporarily staying in Balochistan. However, there are probably fewer Afghans living in Balochistan today as many refugees repatriated in 2013. As of 2015, there are only 327,778 registered Afghan refugees according to the UNHCR.[64]

According to the 2017 Census, nearly all of the population of Balochistan were Muslims. There were also Hindu and Christian minorities in the province. The Hindu population in the province was approximately 49,133 (including the Scheduled Castes).[65][66][67] The Shri Hinglaj Mata mandir which is the largest Hindu pilgrimage centre in Pakistan is situated in Balochistan.[68] There was also a Christian minority of 26,462 individuals in the province.[66]

Religion in Balochistan (1901−2017)

Religious group	1901[69]: 5		1911[70]: 9–13		1921[71]: 47–52		1931[72]: 149		1941[53]: 13–18		1951[73]: 2		1998[74]		2017[75]
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Islam	765,368	94.4%	782,648	93.76%	733,477	91.73%	798,093	91.88%	785,181	91.53%	1,137,063	98.52%	6,484,006	98.75%	12,255,528	99.28%
Hinduism	38,158	4.71%	38,326	4.59%	51,348	6.42%	53,681	6.18%	54,394	6.34%	13,087	1.13%	39,146	0.6%	49,378	0.4%
Sikhism	2,972	0.37%	8,390	1.01%	7,741	0.97%	8,425	0.97%	12,044	1.4%	—	—	—	—	—	—
Christianity	4,026	0.5%	5,085	0.61%	6,693	0.84%	8,059	0.93%	6,056	0.71%	3,937	0.34%	26,462	0.4%	33,330	0.27%
Zoroastrianism	166	0.02%	170	0.02%	165	0.02%	167	0.02%	75	0.01%	79	0.01%	—	—	—	—
Judaism	48	0.01%	57	0.01%	19	0.002%	17	0.002%	19	0.002%	—	—	—	—	—	—
Jainism	8	0.001%	10	0.001%	17	0.002%	17	0.002%	11	0.001%	—	—	—	—	—	—
Buddhism	0	0%	16	0.002%	160	0.02%	68	0.01%	43	0.01%	1	0%	—	—	—	—
Ahmadiyya	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	9,800	0.15%	2,469	0.02%
Others	0	0%	1	0%	5	0.001%	75	0.009%	12	0.001%	0	0%	6,471	0.1%	3,703	0.03%
Total Population	810,746	100%	834,703	100%	799,625	100%	868,617	100%	857,835	100%	1,154,167	100%	6,565,885	100%	12,344,408	100%

• Bolan University of Medical & Health Sciences
• Makran Medical College, Turbat

• Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology, Khuzdar
• Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta

• University of Balochistan, Quetta
• Al-Hamd Islamic University, Quetta
• Sardar Bahadur Khan Women's University, Quetta
• Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, Lasbela
• University of Turbat, Turbat
• University of Loralai, Loralai
• University of Gwadar, Gwadar

Balochistan's share of Pakistan's national income has historically ranged between 3.7% to 4.9%.[96] Since 1972, Balochistan's gross income has grown in size by 2.7 times.[97] Outside Quetta, the resource extraction infrastructure of the province is gradually developing but still lags far behind other parts of Pakistan.

The agreements for royalty rights and ownership of mineral rights were reached during a period of unprecedented natural disasters, economic, social, political, and cultural unrest in Pakistan. The negotiations were widely considered to be insufficiently transparent.[98]

Following is a list of a few tourist attractions and places of interest in Balochistan:

• Astola Island
• Bolan Pass
• Dureji
• Gadani Beach
• Gadani Ship Breaking Yard
• Gwadar
• Hanna Lake
• Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park, near Quetta.
• Hinglaj Mata Temples
• Hingol National Park
• Hub Dam
• Jiwani Coastal Wetland
• Khuzdar
• Kund Malir
• Makran Coastal Highway
• Mehrgarh
• Moola Chotok
• Pir Ghaib Waterfall, Balochistan
• Quaid-e-Azam Residency
• Quetta
• The princess of hope, Balochistan
• Urak Valley
• Zhob
• Ziarat Juniper Forest
• Ziarat