Spanning from the Arabian Sea to the deserts bordering Iran and Afghanistan, Balochistan is a land abundant in minerals, history, and unresolved conflicts.

Despite being Pakistan’s largest province by territory, it remains the least developed and has been the epicentre of one of South Asia’s longest-standing liberation struggles.

The core of the conflict dates back to before Pakistan’s creation: the question of whether Balochistan’s fate in 1947 was a choice or an imposition. The roots of the modern struggle trace back to the princely State of Kalat.

Under the 1876 Treaty with British India, Kalat retained internal autonomy, setting it apart from directly administered colonial territories. As British rule neared its end in 1947, Kalat’s leadership sought to restore its sovereignty.

A pivotal meeting in Delhi on August 4, 1947, brought together Lord Mountbatten, Jawaharlal Nehru, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and the Khan of Kalat. It was agreed that Kalat will gain independence upon the British departure.

An agreement signed on August 11 between Kalat and the Muslim League recognised Kalat as a sovereign state, with an understanding that its independence would be respected. Kalat declared independence on August 15, raising its traditional flag and marking the Khan of Kalat as the ruler of a free state.

However, this independence was short-lived. British memoranda soon questioned Kalat’s capacity to function as a fully independent entity in international affairs. Political pressure from Pakistan’s new leadership........

© News18