On Baluchi Separatism

Abstract

0.1. Amongst the Iranian peoples and ethnic formations a highly important place is occupied by the Baluchis, due to their ancient and specific culture, rich historical background and because of their political weight in the ethnic mosaic of the region. In spite of that the Baluchis have always been an integral part of the continuum of peoples inhabiting Iran, and from the earliest times have played an important role in the creation and consolidation of the Iranian state; though, from the other side, the ideas of separatism and ambitions of creating their own state have never been alien to them. However, the lack of a clearly formed national ideology and national consolidation, along with a number of other factors, have always been an obstacle in the way of the realization of these ideas. In any case, the Baluchis (around 6 million) are the largest Iranian ethnicity after the Persians, Kurds and Afghans. 1.1. In the XVII century by the efforts of the Brahui and Baluchi tribes, as a result of struggle against the Great Moguls, the Khanate of Qelat was founded. This historical period is not thoroughly studied and now it is difficult to say who played the main role in the foundation of the Khanate: Baluchis or Brahuis? However, the period of the Khanate of Qelat is considered as a part of Baluchistan's history. The rulers of Qelat, during many years, fought either with the Kalhurs of Sind, or with the Gilzais of Afghanistan, and the Khanate's borders were continuously changing, including in certain historic periods the regions of Quetta-Pishin, Qachchi, Sibi, etc. The rulers of the Khanate were often subject to the influence of either the rulers of Iran (Nadir-shah, for instance), or the Afghans of Qandahar, up to the period of Nasir Khan's reign the most authoritative leader of Qelat. Nasir Khan managed to bring all the local sardars under his jurisdiction and enlarged the territory of the Khanate approximately up to the borders of the modern Pakistani province of Baluchistan. With the penetration of the Dutch, and afterwards the British into the Persian Gulf, the value of the Khanate of Qelat and Baluchi territories began to increase gradually. The foreigners considered Baluchistan as a foothold for their expansion in the directions of India, Iran and Afghanistan. According to an agreement between the British Mission and Qelat signed in 1839, the Baluchis were to guarantee the safety of British power and transportation to the Afghan border, in return, they were given guarantees of the preservation of their sovereignty and the borders of the Baluchi territories. From that time Baluchistan gradually began to lose its influence in the region. 1.2. As a result of the over enhancing spread of the Great Britain's influence further to the West, Persia also remembered its vital interests.In order to protect their own interests, the Persians began intensive interference in Baluchistan. During the reigns of Nasereddin-shah and Reza-shah they actively tried to subject the Baluchi tribes to the central government. A considerable part of Baluchistan up to 1 947 was considered the territory of the British Empire. It is necessary to note that the division of Baluchi lands took place at the end of the XIX century, due to an agreement between Iran, Afghanistan and Britain, leading to a formal demarcation line through the enormous Baluchi tribal massive and the emergence of the Iranlian, or Western,