Baloch identity and colonial threat

By Rustum Baloch

Balochistan was illegally occupied by Pakistan in 1948. Ever since, Balochistan’s resources have been plundered by the state of Pakistan at accelerating speed. The main beneficiary of this aggressive rip-off is Panjab and its ruling class, while Baloch are living in extreme poverty and hardship. Baloch are kept away systematically from effective education, health and basic necessities. They have been prevented from practicing and developing their culture. A fraudulent Pakistani curriculum has been imposed on Baloch. Their national heroes Chaker Khan, Hamal Jehaind, Balach, Naseer khan Noori were replaced with Ghaznavi, Ahmed Shah and Jennah.

The names of Baloch areas have been changed to Jinnah road, Ayub stadium and so on. The Panjabi newcomers in collaboration with their army and political and religious establishments have made every effort to marginalise the Baloch in their own homeland. Their hidden plan has always been to change the demography of Balochistan. They imported countless Panjabis and others and have provided them with jobs and land. Gwader, the deep sea Baloch port is an application of this scheme.

Control of Gwader port for Pakistan means the final solution. It means total hegemony over Baloch. This is because importing millions of Panjabis and giving them the economic and political power to rule and destroy the Baloch national identity. If such plans succeed the Baloch would be reduced to a minority group in their own motherland like red Indians, Maoris and Aborigines in their respective homelands. The construction of Gwader port for Pakistan is the question of survival for the Baloch nation.

All liberation movements which have struggled against their occupiers like Flemish, Catalonian, Basque, Venice, Quebec, Kurdistan, Irish, Tamils, Bangsamoro are facing only colonial threat from occupation but their identity is not at stake compared to the Baloch. Baloch are under real threat from Panjabi/Pakistani colonialism. To increase its power in Balochistan, Pakistan works in multiple fronts. Their aim is to weaken the Baloch movement by cutting their ties with their history, culture, heroes, norms, values, traditions, memories, language, art, music and land. The colonisers want Baloch to embrace a fake identity. In another front they try to weaken Baloch economic and political power by settling more outsiders and transferring these power to their proxies.

In all successful movements political parties are meant to achieve the goal of liberation. To many in Balochistan the national cause is not their primary goal. Their main concern is their party. That will not help Baloch national struggle much. Working for a party, an ideology or religious sect for its own sake cannot improve the situation but it will prolong Panjabi colonialism in Balochistan. If we do not overcome this failing in our liberation movement, it will not just weaken our movement but also will damage our national identity.

Gaining our independence should be our first priority. When we are free we can have a responsible and accountable democratic Baloch government. It is then that we would be able to develop our own state comparable to states such as in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, New Zealand and many other open and representative states that work for their nations. It is then we can get rid of poverty, starvation, disease, illiteracy, violence and religious bigotry. We all know that there can never be a welfare state and liberty under colonialism. Therefore, the primary target of Baloch people must be getting rid of colonial powers first and preparing for establishing a responsible representative Baloch state.