Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Balochistan (from Strategic Significance to US Involvement)

2012; Volume: 19; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

1994-1080

Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Umbreen Javaid, Naheed S. Goraya,

International Relations and Foreign Policy

Abstract:Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan in terms of landmass and is the least literate. It became a part of Pakistan, when the British withdrawal took place on August 14, 1947 but got the status of province after 23 years in 1972. Needless to say that it has been overlooked since the British rule. But it is important to note that the location of Balochistan, connecting Iranian Plateau with South East Asia, Central Asia to its long coast line in the shores of the Arabian Sea, makes it geographically an important place. In the recent months, Balochistan has come into limelight in the international media and the resistance movements have risen to the extent where the Baloch are demanding liberation and separation. It is very much evident that the geo-policies of Balochistan, internal contradictions in Baloch society, state response and the foreign hand have aggravated the problems in the province. This paper is an attempt to focus on the strategic significance of Balochistan and how does it provide an opportunity to Baloch nationalists in order to deal with big superpowers in order to liberate the country. The paper aims at discussing, the real factors behind the US interest in Balochistan and how the foreign involvement can be stopped, particularly at a time when it has reached at the brink of separation.Key Words: Policy, British Rule, Khan of Kalat, National Security Syndrome, Machkinder's Rim Land, Gwadar Port, Rickodek, Great Powers, Great Game, Greater BalochistanIntroduction:Balochistan is a mountainous desert area, consisting of 3.5 lakh sq. kms. It borders Iran, Afghanistan and its Southern Boundary is the Arabian Sea with strategically important port of Gwadar on the Makran Coast, commanding approach to the Strait of Hormuz. Its total population is 7.5 million. Balochistan occupies 43.6 percent of Pakistan's total area and is least populated (5 percent of the total population). Though the poorest, yet it provides gas and coal (consisting of 200 coal mines) to the industrial infrastructure of the country. Around 60 percent of Pakistan's domestic and industrial requirements are met through the gas obtained from Dera Bugti (Wassan, 2008: 112).Balochistan contains the twin character as ecologically, it is connected with Central Asia while politically with South Asia. Through out the history, it has played the role of a junction for the Superpowers which moved ahead along with their dogmas and ultimately set up their domination in the region. Ahmad (1992) writes that Let it be in a context of Moscow's Central Asian question, the Erstwhile British or the US Doctrines to contain Communism (Dulles-Carter-Reagan), In so far as they relate to South Asia, Central Asia and the Persian Gulf (Ahmad, 1992: 148).Historical ContextAmerican President while dealing with Afghanistan during Russian invasion had called Balochistan, Zone of Instability (Nixon, 1980: 90). When Afghanistan was invaded, it was the time when British became conscious about the significance of Balochistan. Therefore, it was thought that it could be helpful strategically in order to defend the Supply Line in Afghan Wars. While keeping in view this state of affairs in mind, Forward Policy was applied by England and the control of British Balochistan was attained. Resultantly, it weakened the powers of Khan of Kalat (Wassan, 2008: 118). It is another story that the hundred years of British Rule could perhaps be called a Black Period in the history of Balochistan (Ahmad, 1992: 101).Balochistan had been backward and far flung before independence. though it had its first elected government in 1972, yet was not given the status of the full-fledged province with a government responsible to an elected legislature. It was a Chief Commissioner's province and its Chief Executive, the agent to the Governor General (AGG), acted on the behalf of the Central government in Karachi. …