Research Proposal of Seminar Paper

The Conflict of Balochistan: the Nexus of the Internal and External Forces
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The Nexus of the Internal and External Forces in the Conflict of Balochistan

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Introduction

Balochistan is geographically bridges the Middle East and Southwest Asia to Central Asia and
South Asia. Balochistan was unified as a self-governing political entity by Mir Naseer Khan
Noori (Khan of Kalat) in the 18th century. In 1839, the British India occupied Balochistan.
Following their colonial policy of divide and rule, the British divided Balochistan into three parts
under the ‘Goldsmith Line’ agreement in 1871 awarded Western Balochistan (Sistan-
Balochistan) to Iran and ‘Durand Line’ agreement of 1893 awarded Northern Balochistan
(Nimroz & Helmand) to Afghanistan while Eastern Balochistan was kept in the sovereignty of
the British India but administratively divided it into Khanate (state of Khan of Kalat) and British
Balochistan. Eastern Balochistan was given the status of princely state. After the decolonization
of the British India, the Khan of Kalat declared the independence of Balochistan on 11 th August,
1947 and lasts as a sovereign state until it was annexed with Pakistan on 27th March, 1948.

Statement of the Problem

The troubled history of Balochistan vis-à-vis Pakistan begins with its annexation with Pakistani
state. The Baloch nationalists allege that they have been denied to their legitimate econo-political
rights and they have confronted with the federation in 1948, 1958, 1962, 173 and 2005. After
the 9/11, when China started the construction of Gwadar port and the US troops occupied
Afghanistan, the law and order situation in Balochistan deteriorated The exacerbating situation
took a u-turn in August 2006, when Nawab Akbar Bughti was killed in a military operation
which altered the demand of provincial autonomy into political sovereignty. Since then
Pakistan’s security establishment perceived the foreign hands are shouldering this insurgency.

Significance of the Study

The decades-old insurgency in Balochistan has posed serious challenges and threats to the
territorial social integrity of Pakistan. Occupying 44% of land mass, Balochistan provides several
valuable natural resources to the rest of the country. Beside natural resources it is situated on a
significant geo-strategic location bridging the Middle East and Southwest Asia and South Asia
along with a coast of about 800km in Arabian Sea. The Chinese presence in Gwadar and the US
presence in the region have dragged the province in the vortex of international politics.

Objectives of the Study

The objectives of the study are to explore the true nature of the conflict which has engulfed the
whole province. The study would explore the historical dynamics of the conflict vis-à-vis the
interests of the major powers (The USA, Russia, China & India) in the region and their alleged
virtual nexus with the Baloch nationalists. The study would define the conflict in the context
Baloch nationalism and regional and international politics especially with special reference to the
geo-political location of Balochistan.
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Hypotheses

There would be two hypotheses in this study.

“The demand of political sovereignty is due to the denial of the legitimate econo-political rights
to the Baloch people for the last 63 years.”

“The foreign actors are instigating the insurgency in Balochistan to gain their strategic interests
in the region.”

Theoretical Framework

The theoretical framework of the study would be based on two dominant theories of International
Relations.

 Nationalism: “Nationalism” is the actions that the members of a nation take when seeking
to achieve self-determination (nation-state). The term nationalism was coined by German
scholar, Johann Gottfried Herder (nationalismus) during the late 1770s. The concept of
nationalism is traced from the modern nation state that emerged from the Treaty of
Westphalia in 1648, the French Revolution, and the American Revolution. Since that
time, nationalism has become one of the most significant political and social forces in
history. Balochistan as a nation state was united by Naseer Khan Noori (Khan of Kalat)
in 18th century. The office of the Khan of Kalat was the symbol of Baloch nationalism.

 Neo-Realism: Neo-realism is a theory of International Relations, outlined by Kenneth

Waltz in his 1979 book Theory of International Politics. It says the international system
is anarchic and it is the international political system that determines the behavior of the
state. States purse their national interests as their primary goal. Balochistan has always
been one of the vulnerable epicenters of international politics in the region, whether it
was the so-called Great Game between the Russian Empire and Great Britain, the Cold
War between the United States and the former Soviet Union or the current smoldering
New Great Game between the US and China.

Methodology

Historical, descriptive and analytical methods would be used in this study. The observations of
different intellectuals, distinguished books, research articles, newspaper and interviews of the
renowned politicians including Baloch nationalists would be part of this study. The internet
would be on the major source of data. Books and research articles would be collected from
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different available resources and interviews of politicians and intellectuals would be conduct by
me.

Literature Review

Back to the Future: The Khanate of Kalat and the Genesis of Baloch Nationalism 1915–
1955.

This book was published in 2008 by the Oxford Press New York during the third uprising of the
Baloch nationalism with the analysis of the decolonization of the Indian sub-continent. Back to
the Future investigates the genesis of Baloch nationalism during the first half of the twentieth
century, analyzes the emergence of a Baloch national movement

The Problem of ‘Greater Baluchistan’: a Study of Baluch Nationalism

The author of this historical book is Dr. Innayat Ullah Baloch. Dr. Inayatullah Baloch is German
based Baloch intellectual. His book “The Problem of Greater Balochistan” is the basic and very
important historical discourse on Baloch nationalism. This book was in 1987 in which the writer
has analyzed and identified the basic issues of the conflict of Balochistan and the circumstances
which led to the division of Greater Balochistan.

In Search of Solutions: An Autobiography of Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo

Statesman, politician and former Governor of Baluchistan, Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo was a
prominent figure of the Baloch nationalism. The book contains valuable information about the
early days of the Baloch national struggle, role of the leftist parties in Pakistan and dismissal of
the NAP-led government in KP and Balochistan. This book was published in 2009.

Baloch Nationalism: Its Origin and Development

The author of this book, Taj Mohammad Breseeg is one of the prominent intellectual who has
deep knowledge about the Baloch nationalism. Baloch Nationalism: It’s Origin and Development
was the Ph.D thesis of the author. This book was published in 2004 just before the third rising of
the Baloch nationalism.

The central theme of this book revolves around two basic questions:

 Is there a Baloch nationality with sufficiently developed national consciousness and

distinctive characteristics shared by the members of this nationality?
 If so, is the national consciousness of the Baloch, their determination to maintain their
national identity, and their desire for political self-government, strong enough to say that
there is a Baloch national movement.
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In Afghanistan's Shadow: Bloch Nationalism and Soviet Temptation.

Selig S Harrison is director of the Asia Centre for International Policy, Washington. This book
was published in 1981. He gives a detailed history of the Baloch nationalist movement in
Pakistan and in Iran .The author studies the Soviet connection of the Baloch nationalism. The
writer describes and analyses the Soviet interests and intentions in Balochistan and the warm
water during the Cold War.

Baloch Nationalism and Superpower Rivalry

The author of this research article is Selig S Harrison and it was was published in 1980/81 in the
International Security Journal. This article analyses the Baloch nationalism in the context of
Communist and Capitalist blocs and try to identify those who are behind the scene.

Balochis of Pakistan: on the Margins of History. Foreign Policy Centre London

This is an historical research article which has been published by the Foreign Policy Centre
London, a think tank organization in 2006. The Foreign Policy Centre is the UK's most
prominent independent progressive foreign affairs think tank. It offers a historical account of the
struggle and argues that the Balochis have been disregarded by the British Empire, the founders
of modern India and the successive governments in Pakistan.

Baloch Nationalism and the Geopolitics of Energy Resources: the Changing Context of
Separatism in Pakistan

This research article was written by Robert G Wirsing and was published in Strategic Studies
Institute (SSI) | US Army War College in 2008. The writer says that Balochistan, by virtue of
both its own energy resources and its geographic location remains a significant piece of territory
in the eyes of global and regional powers.

Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of

Pakistan 1973 (2010)

In this seminar paper the Eighteen Amendment in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan will be examined in the context of awarding greater provincial autonomy to the
federating units of Pakistan. In the 18th Constitutional amendment, the abolition of the
controversial concurrent list of the legislation and the acceptance of 50 per cent of province share
over the natural resources.
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Division of the Study

The study would be divided into eight chapters.

 Political Landscape of Balochistan

 Troubled History of the Conflict
 Baloch Grievances
 Post 9/11 Balochistan
 Resurgence of Baloch Nationalism
 Role of Regional Actors
o Afghanistan
o India
o Iran
 Role of International Actors
o The USA
o China
o Russia
 Islamabad’s Response to Conflict of Balochistan
 Recommendations for the Solution of the Conflict

Annotated Bibliography

 Axmann, Martin. Back to the Future: The Khanate of Kalat and the Genesis of Baloch
Nationalism 1915–1955. New York: Oxford University Press USA, 2008.
 Baloch, Inayatullah. The Problem of ‘Greater Baluchistan’: a Study of Baluch
Nationalism. Hamburg: Beiträge Zur Süudasienforschung, 1987.
 Bizenjo, Mir Ghaus Bakhsh. In Search of Solutions: An Autobiography of Mir Ghaus
Bakhsh Bizenjo. Ed. B.M. Kutty. Karachi: Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi
& Pakistan Labour Trust, 2009.
 Breseeg, Taj Mohammad. Baloch Nationalism: Its Origin and Development. Karachi:
Royal Book, 2004.
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 Balochis of Pakistan: on the Margins of History."  Foreign Policy Centre London, Nov.
2006.
 Eighteenth Amendment, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 (2010).
 Harrison, Selig. In Afghanistan's Shadow: Baloch Nationalism and Soviet Temptation.
New York: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1981. 
 Wirsing, Robert G. "Baloch Nationalism and the Geopolitics of Energy Resources: the
Changing Context of Separatism in Pakistan.” Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) | US Army
War College. Apr. 2008.