Back in 2013, the Pakistani state and media described the Balochistan issue as “peripheral” and “insignificant.” However, the recent civil rights movement led by Mahrang Baloch, which has received national and international solidarity, challenges the way Pakistan deals with and describes Baloch grievances. In addition, the rise in the Baloch militancy in the last few years even led the BBC to question Pakistan’s writ in Balochistan.
The Balochistan issue has become mainstream. People across all parts of Pakistan not only know about the military’s role but also show some level of sympathy. In the last 10 years, the discussion on Balochistan at both the national and international levels has completely transformed from an unrecognized and insignificant issue to one receiving global attention.
The current Baloch struggle is divided into two strands: the insurgency and civil rights movement, which operate independently of one another. Recent events led by different Baloch groups showcase Balochistan’s multiple and diverse movements. The Baloch insurgency against the Pakistani state has continued since 1948, seeking independence for Balochistan. The civil rights movement, which began in the early 2000s, protests against enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and violations of political freedom.
In both aspects – the non-violent human rights-based movement and militancy – the force and strength seen today are unprecedented in the overall Baloch struggle. The social consciousness among Balochs and how it is being voiced publicly is something we haven’t seen before; some call it the “Baloch Spring.”
Two interconnected reasons make the current movement different, powerful, and unique.
First, the flow of information and narrative formation has become democratized now. Previously, Pakistan controlled and manipulated discussion of both human rights violations and the Baloch question. The state would blame external elements and Baloch tribal leaders for all the wrongs in the region.
However, social media has challenged the state’s grip on narrative and information control. The Pakistan Army, like all other traditional armies, has been using violence to curb the legitimate concerns of the people. However, physical violence does not guarantee control over the narrative anymore. The flow of information on social media has brought the Balochistan issue into the limelight. Abductions, killings, and other repressive measures no longer help the Pakistani state to hide human rights violations; instead, they stoke further discontent as new abuses are highlighted for all to see.
Pakistan is no exception here. Around the world, modern states are no longer the gatekeepers of information. For example, in the case of Palestine, the Israeli army, which is much more sophisticated than Pakistan in terms of its technology, is unable to hide facts on the ground, the level of mass killings, and the humanitarian crisis.
When traditional armies are unable to control narratives, they usually block the alternative sources for sharing and gathering information such as the internet. In Balochistan, internet coverage has always been limited, but in recent years, when the military is facing challenges from the mainland and all peripheries, it has limited internet coverage across all regions. This has caused new solidarity between Balochistan and the rest of Pakistan, forging a common cause of discontent as Pakistan takes its internet censorship to the next level.
These tactics are not new. China and India also engage in communication repression. China’s blockade of news in the Xinjiang region and India’s blockade of the internet in Kashmir are identical to what the Pakistan army is doing. But neither China, India, nor Pakistan has been able to prevent the facts coming from these regions, despite attempts to hide their human rights violations. The impunity and monopoly over information that the Pakistan Army used to enjoy is severely challenged now.
Second, the current movement involves cross-generational and cross-gender participation, which makes the most significant impact. The involvement of young Balochs and women is not something new. The Baloch Student Organization (BSO) has been advocating for Baloch rights since the 1960s.
Similarly, Baloch female leaders such as the late Karima Baloch and Farzana Majeed had been active since the 2000s. These women, particularly Karima Baloch, are the inspiration behind the involvement of young Baloch women in the current movement.
When Karima joined the struggle for Baloch civil rights, there were very few women among the public-facing leadership. Her story and leadership inspired young women who are part of the current movement; they were teenagers when Karima was active and they grew up seeing her mobilizing Baloch families.
The charisma of young women such as Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Baloch, and others is so powerful that it has already inspired future generations of Baloch both in Balochistan and the diaspora. I watched a clip of a 7-year-old girl who gave a speech at a protest in Quetta. She was clear about who oppresses her nation, abducts her loved ones, and humiliates her family members. Referring to the army, the young girl promised that those who humiliated her nation would face consequences. One does not see this level of clarity among this age group often, but it is not an unusual sight in Balochistan. The young generation has from childhood seen and witnessed the brutal and repressive response from the Pakistani state, which politicized them right from the beginning.
Regarding the diaspora, looking at the recent protests in London, the presence of women and young girls has significantly increased in recent months, and there’s no doubt it is due to the influence of Maharang Baloch. Today, we are seeing a global consciousness that has united different Baloch groups and ensured participation across gender lines, something we haven’t seen before.
The young generation, particularly Gen Z and millennials, are much more tech-savvy and, as a result, possess greater awareness of narrative making and challenging the mainstream narratives. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee is a classic example, having proven adept at presenting and framing the Balochistan issue from a global and anti-colonial perspective. The use of terms like dispossession, occupation, exploitation, and climate justice made the current Baloch movement a part of global discourse. The young generation has successfully aligned the Baloch struggle with global anti-colonial movements, increasing both attention and sympathy as the likes of Greta Thunberg show solidarity with Baloch.
As a result, the human rights violation in Balochistan is not a local issue anymore. It’s becoming a part of the global discussion, which reflects that the movement is getting its due recognition beyond the South Asian region. This is one of the greatest achievements the younger generation brought to the movement.
Where do the Baloch movement and Pakistan as a whole go from here? I am not an expert on armed insurgencies; therefore, I can’t speak to whether the recently reinvigorated Baloch insurgency poses an existential threat to Pakistan. However, the consciousness of self-determination and the sense of a doubtful future within Pakistan have become clearer among Baloch people.
I am not suggesting that every person in Balochistan desires independence. However, it is clear that every person in Balochistan wants freedom, justice, and dignity – rights they have been denied for over 70 years.
Pakistan can’t continue denying fundamental rights to the Baloch people. Suppressing Baloch voices had never worked before and will not work in future. If history teaches us anything, it is that state persecution only makes the Baloch people more resilient.