From Kalat to Balochistan: Why Pakistan’s mineral-rich province rebels for freedom | Explained | World News

Pakistan’s mineral-rich province of Balochistan has witnessed violent attacks; There has been an increase in coordinated attacks, particularly by Baloch separatist groups directly linked to the province’s long-running insurgency.

On Saturday, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group seeking an independent Balochistan, claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated attacks on several areas in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

According to a report by NDTV, the BLA called the coordinated attacks on dozens of locations “Operation Herof Phase II”, which included the seizure or destruction of more than 30 government properties and 20 vehicles and the imposition of temporary restrictions on the movement of security forces, armed attacks and social media videos showing some female fighters.

BLA claimed that more than 80-84 Pakistani security personnel were killed and 18 were taken hostage. Pakistani officials reported that most of the attacks were foiled and confirmed that 15-17 security personnel and 18-31 civilians were killed; however, due to limited land access and ongoing conflict, the figures have not been independently verified.

The militants targeted military, police and administrative sites in at least nine to 14 districts, including the provincial capital Quetta and Noshki, Mastung, Kalat, Kharan, Panjgur, Gwadar, Pasni, Turbat and others, using firearms, grenades and suicide attacks over a period of about 10 hours from early morning.

These repeated attacks underscore the Baloch insurgency, a demand for an independent state in Pakistan’s mineral-rich Balochistan, dating back to 1948, when Kalat joined Pakistan amid disputes over sovereignty.

Formation of Kalat Province in Balochistan

Baloch separatism has plagued Pakistan since 1947. This divide dates back to when British India was divided into India and Pakistan, and more than 500 princely states were forced to choose a side. While most states acceded to India, the components of Balochistan, especially the Kalat Khanate, were a formidable region facing unique challenges due to their strategic location and tribal autonomy.

The Khan of Kalat kept his lands independent until March 1948. Under mounting pressure, he signed documents to join Pakistan in 1948, which led to the creation of modern-day Balochistan.

Balochistan, one of the largest provinces of Pakistan, is located in the southwestern corner of Pakistan and has vast natural resources such as natural gas, oil, copper, gold and mineral reserves.

Before its liberation, Kalat Province functioned primarily as a group of tribes ruled by tribal leaders.

The Khan of Kalat stood out as the most powerful among these tribal leaders. Its territory included several semi-independent vassal states with varying autonomy. The three important people were Makran, Las Bela and Kharan; Together with Kalat, they evolved into distinct political units forming the Balochistan States Union, also known as Kalat Khanate or Kalat Confederation.

In 1876, the British signed a treaty with the Khanate that asserted direct control over it. This Treaty of Kalat later formed the basis for the last Khan Ahmed Yar Khan to declare independence in 1947.

The Khan of Kalat was considered a close friend of Jinnah and hoped that this would persuade Pakistan to offer a friendship treaty rather than full accession. His request was initially approved: on 11 August 1947, an agreement recognized Kalat as an independent state along with Pakistan and Britain. However, Britain opposed this arrangement for fear of Russian expansion, forcing Pakistan to request Kalat’s accession.

These historic debates over Kalat’s membership laid the foundation for Baloch separatism, blending claims of tribal autonomy with grievances over resource control in mineral-rich Balochistan. Decades later, these are echoed in modern rebellions such as the BLA’s recent Operation Herof offensives, where demands for independence clashed with Pakistani military responses and external blame games.

Economic Exploitation of the Mineral Rich Region

Balochistan supplies most of Pakistan’s natural gas from the Sui fields, discovered in 1952, and has historically provided 35-40% of national production, along with large copper-gold reserves at Reko Diq and coal and oil resources. It is also home to Gwadar port, the flagship of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and energy corridors, channeling billions of dollars of Chinese investment through the province.

Despite its mineral deposits, Balochistan remains the poorest province in Pakistan, with a multidimensional poverty rate of 70%, unemployment rate of 33%; Locals claim displacement and favoritism towards Punjab and China for CPEC, leaving their communities underserved.

Apart from economic exploitation, the Baloch people feel left out of Pakistan’s major decisions as they have very few representatives in the national government compared to their huge land size.

For years, Balochistan has wanted to gain more control over its territories, such as making local laws and managing its resources. Moreover, schools and offices are pushing Urdu above the Baloch language, making the locals feel that their culture and identity are being erased, creating anger from generation to generation.

A large army presence is concentrated in Balochistan to fight the rebels, but many see it as an occupying force that is frightening people. This rigid approach does not solve the problems; It is pushing more Baloch youth towards separatist groups as they feel it is not a fair way to voice their problems.

Balochistan’s struggle is rooted in old wounds from 1948, when the tribes lost their independence; This is mixed with anger at today’s Gwadar ports, rich in gas, gold and mostly aiding foreigners, making the bloodbath a recurring cycle as locals remain poor and sidelined.