Baloch (Ethno) Nationalism from Tribal Resistance to Mass Movement

Abstract

Abstract

Balochistan is the largest ‘federating unit’ of Pakistan in term of landmass, richest in terms of minerals, but is the poorest amongst the other federating units. Since the inception of Pakistan, there has been continuous resistance and uprisings from the side of the Baloch nationalist leadership(s) against the federation regarding ill-treatment and unjust behavior off the central government. However, the current political situation in Balochistan is critical and problematic. Several insurgent groups divided into different factions, having the motive of separation from the federation, are emerging on the political scene and are being supported by local masses. Prior to 2000s, the nature of the Baloch nationalist movement was tribal centric. The nature of previous four insurgencies were owned by tribal leaderships due to their tribal related interests which lacked all-encompassing nationalist struggle for the Baloch. However, the nature of the current Baloch nationalist struggle is own by middle class and common masses. The main focus of the study is to understand the transformation of Baloch nationalism and national struggle from tribal leadership to the common masses while exploring nature, development and various dimensions of the Baloch struggle within the federation. This paper aims to conceptualize the nature and development of Baloch nationalism within the framework of nationalism studies, starting from colonial to ‘post-colonial Baluchistan’. In case of the Baloch struggle primordial and modern approaches to nationalism can better explain Baloch nationalism because the roots of Baloch nationalism are primordial, and these are further intensified through modernization. Despite several political and economic concessions, including centralized policies of successive governments, the central government and military establishment failed to mainstream the hardcore Baloch nationalist leaders and the insurgent groups to work within the federal framework. Rather these created extreme nationalistic sentiments among the Baloch nationalist leadership as well as ordinary Baloch in Balochistan. The paper also explores whether Baloch nationalism and national struggle stem from modernization, marginalization, state oppression, and foreign projection or are deeply rooted in their immemorial past. The nature of this research is qualitative, and it thoroughly studies and analyzes multiple data sources on the Baloch national struggle and its relationship with the federation within the academic domain.

        Keywords: Baloch (ethno)nationalism, transformation, sociopolitical consciousness, common masses, tribal leadership, nationalist struggle.