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Unrest in Balochistan Region
Context
Recent violence claimed the lives of innocent civilians and security personnel alike in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) took responsibility for the attack.
Why is there so much violence in Balochistan?
- The Balochistan region is divided into three regions. The northern part is in present-day Afghanistan, the western region in Iran is called the Sistan-Baluchistan region and the remaining in Pakistan.
- In Pakistan, it is the largest province by size, but the least populated and it remains largely underdeveloped, with high levels of poverty.
- It makes up some 6 percent of the total area of the country.
- Under British rule, the region was managed through the 'Sandeman system,' which granted autonomy to local tribes under 'sardars' or 'jirgars' (tribal councils).
- Pakistan took control of Balochistan in 1948, leading to the first uprising for autonomy. This was met with violence and suppression.
- The province is rich in natural resources like gold, copper, oil and natural gas and boasts a 770km (478-mile) stretch of coastline, where the strategic Gwadar Port is located – a prominent feature of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
- Despite being rich in natural resources, Balochistan remains the poorest province in Pakistan. The Baloch ethnic group, which makes up a third of the population, has long been marginalised due to the Pakistani government’s discriminatory policies. This history of marginalisation has been accompanied by sustained armed resistance.
- The latest cycle of violence started in the 2000s, prompted by demands for an equal share of the province’s resources for the Baloch people. Eventually, calls for independence also emerged.
- Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is the biggest of several ethnic insurgent groups that have battled the central government for decades, saying it unfairly exploits Balochistan’s gas and mineral resources. It seeks the expulsion of China and independence for the province.
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