“For decades, we have given Pakistan our resources, but in return, we have received only bullets and broken promises.”– Allah Nazar Baloch (Balochistan Liberation Front leader)
Balochistan, the largest yet most sparsely populated province of Pakistan, has long been exploited as an economic ATM for mainland Pakistan. Despite being rich in natural resources, Balochistan has faced state-sponsored discrimination since Pakistan’s creation in 1947.
From 1947 to the present, Balochistan has endured continuous ethno-nationalist conflicts, extrajudicial killings, and executions by the Pakistani state, all under the label of “separatism.”
GEOGRAPHICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC CONTEXT
Balochistan spans approximately 347,190 square kilometers, constituting 44% of Pakistan’s land area. It shares borders with Iran, Afghanistan, and the Pakistani provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh. To the south, Balochistan enjoys a 750-kilometer coastline along the Arabian Sea, making it Pakistan’s longest coastal province.
Demographically, Balochistan is home to 12.3 million people (as of 2023), with Baloch and Pashtun ethnic groups forming the majority. Despite its immense resource wealth—including natural gas, copper, gold, and aluminum—Balochistan remains Pakistan’s poorest province, with a staggering 70% of its population living in multidimensional poverty. The province ranks at the bottom of almost all socio-economic indicators, which we will explore further in this article.
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HISTORICAL CONTEXT: THE BETRAYAL OF JINNAH
The conflict between Balochistan and the Pakistani state is not new. It dates back to 1947, when the founding father of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, deceived the Baloch people.
Before independence, Balochistan was divided into four princely states—Kalat, Kharan, Las Bela, and Makran. Kalat, the largest of these, functioned as a sovereign entity under Khan Mir Ahmed Yar Khan, who sought independence during the Partition of 1947.
Jinnah, who was Kalat’s legal advisor at the time, initially supported and advocated for Balochistan’s autonomy in negotiations with British colonizers. However, after Pakistan was formed, he reversed his position, betraying the Baloch people.
Before Partition, Jinnah even drafted a memorandum to the British Cabinet Mission, asserting Kalat’s right to independence under the Treaty of 1876, which granted autonomy from British India. He compared Kalat’s case to that of Sikkim and Bhutan, both of which had the right to self-determination.
But after becoming Pakistan’s first Governor-General, Jinnah demanded Kalat’s accession, using political pressure and military threats. The Khan of Kalat resisted, citing earlier promises of sovereignty, but found himself isolated after Jinnah secured the accession of Kharan, Las Bela, and Makran.
On March 27, 1948, Kalat formally acceded to Pakistan under duress, with Jinnah declaring:
“The question of Kalat’s independence is no longer viable.“
This sudden betrayal sparked an immediate rebellion.
Since then, Baloch insurgents have repeatedly resisted Pakistani rule. In acts of defiance, they burned down Jinnah’s house in 2013 and bombed his statue in 2024.
THE BETRAYAL CONTINUES
Pakistan has always exploited Balochistan to fund the development of Punjab and Sindh, while denying the Baloch people their basic rights.
The National Assembly of Pakistan has systematically marginalized Balochistan by keeping its representation disproportionately low. Although Balochistan covers 44% of Pakistan’s land area, it holds only 20 out of 336 seats in the National Assembly—a mere 6% representation.
The province also ranks the lowest in almost every development index. The literacy rate stands at 40%, the lowest in Pakistan. The poverty rate is 42%, the highest in the country. 71% of Balochistan’s population lives in multidimensional poverty, and 69% of its people reside in rural areas with limited access to electricity, education, and healthcare.
These indicators clearly demonstrate how Pakistan has historically betrayed Balochistan.
RICH IN NATURAL RESOURCES, POOR IN DEVELOPMENT
While Pakistan treats Balochistan as an afterthought, it relies heavily on the province’s vast mineral wealth to fund its economy.
Balochistan is home to Pakistan’s richest mineral deposits, including gold, copper, chromite, iron ore, coal, natural gas, and oil. It also has a thriving fishery industry, thanks to its 750-kilometer coastline.
Yet, despite its natural wealth, Balochistan remains Pakistan’s poorest province.
CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (CPEC): A FALSE PROMISE
Pakistan has long promised development to Balochistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Gwadar Port Project was marketed as a game-changer for Balochistan, promising employment and progress.
However, these promises turned out to be another betrayal. Key positions in the project were given to Chinese engineers and officials, not Baloch locals. Thousands of Baloch people were forcibly evicted from their homes, and a high-security fence was built around the port, restricting their movement. Rather than benefiting Balochistan, CPEC has further alienated its people.
As resentment grows, Baloch insurgents have increasingly targeted Chinese nationals working on CPEC/Gwadar Port projects, viewing them as symbols of exploitation. Attacks on Chinese engineers, laborers, and executives have escalated, with militants carrying out bombings, targeted assassinations, and kidnappings. In recent years, groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have claimed responsibility for several high-profile attacks, including suicide bombings on Chinese consulates, assaults on Gwadar port workers, and targeted strikes on Chinese-funded infrastructure.
The hostility stems from CPEC displacing local communities without compensation while offering economic benefits only to Pakistani elites and foreign investors. For many Baloch, these attacks are acts of resistance against what they see as a modern form of colonialism.
THE BALOCHISTAN LIBERATION ARMY (BLA): FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), formed in 2000, has intensified its operations in recent years. The group has adopted increasingly sophisticated tactics, including hostage-taking and suicide bombings, in its fight against the Pakistani state.
Recent Significant Attacks
Train Hijacking (March 2025): The BLA commandeered the Jaffar Express, a passenger train, taking approximately 450 individuals hostage. This incident occurred near Bolan, where militants derailed the train and surrounded it with explosives. While Pakistani authorities downplayed the crisis, unverified reports suggest hundreds may have been killed or injured due to militant action, security operations, or mishandled rescue efforts. The BLA claimed responsibility and threatened to execute hostages unless their demands for a prisoner exchange were met.
Suicide Bombing (November 2024): A BLA-affiliated faction executed a suicide bombing targeting a train in Quetta, which resulted in 26 fatalities. This marked a significant escalation in their operational tactics, showcasing their ability to inflict mass casualties.
Bus Attack (February 2025): BLA militants forcibly removed seven Punjabi passengers from a bus and executed them, highlighting their targeted violence against individuals from other regions of Pakistan.
Targeting Chinese Interests: The BLA has also attacked infrastructure linked to Chinese investments in Balochistan, including Gwadar Port. They view these projects as exploitative and detrimental to local interests. Past attacks have included assaults on Chinese nationals and facilities.
CONCLUSION: BALOCHISTAN’S FUTURE—RESISTANCE OR RECONCILIATION?
Balochistan’s struggle is not just about political autonomy; it is about justice, dignity, and equal rights. Decades of betrayal, exploitation, and repression have deepened the divide between Balochistan and the Pakistani state.
With growing international attention on Balochistan’s plight, the future remains uncertain. Will Pakistan continue its policies of suppression, or will it finally acknowledge and address Balochistan’s legitimate demands?
One thing is certain: The Baloch people will not stop fighting for their rights.
