Every year on November 13, the people of Balochistan commemorate their Martyrdom Day, honoring those who gave their lives in the ongoing struggle for freedom and dignity. Initially, this day was marked in remembrance of Nawab Mehrab Khan, the ruler of Kalat, who fought against the British in 1839. Today, it also pays tribute to thousands of Baloch men and women who have died resisting Pakistan’s illegal occupation of their land.
Following Pakistan’s independence in 1947, Balochistan was annexed by force — a move widely considered illegal and against the will of its people. Since then, the Baloch nationalist movement has continued for over seven decades, demanding autonomy and justice.
A Struggle Repressed but Not Silenced
Since 2005, Pakistan’s security forces have intensified their crackdown on Baloch activists, journalists, and civilians. Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and military operations have become routine, as the state attempts to crush dissent. Yet, despite these brutal tactics, the insurgency endures, fueled by deep resentment and a desire for self-determination.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), in its 2023 report “Balochistan’s Struggle for Hope”, documented the widespread anger and fear among citizens. The report describes Balochistan as a “colony of the state,” plagued by enforced disappearances, economic exclusion, and curbs on press freedom. It highlights a climate of fear perpetuated by paramilitary checkpoints and political manipulation.
Exploitation Amidst Poverty
Despite constituting 44% of Pakistan’s land area, Balochistan remains the country’s poorest province, rich in resources but deprived of development. The province houses the strategic Gwadar port and holds vast reserves of natural gas, copper, and minerals. Yet its people remain impoverished due to exploitation by the Pakistan-China nexus, particularly under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
According to the UN publication Development Advocate Pakistan (2023):
- Only 19% of women in Balochistan have primary or higher education.
- The province has a child stunting rate of 45.5%, far above the national average.
- Just 6.45% of households own a computer, the lowest in the country.
- Female labour participation stands at a mere 7.9%, compared to 26.5% in Punjab.
These stark figures reveal the systematic neglect of Balochistan’s people and the structural inequalities that sustain Pakistan’s colonial-style governance in the region.
Religious Radicalisation as a State Tool
A 2023 research paper published in Liberal Arts and Social Sciences International Journal argues that the Pakistani state has deliberately promoted Islamisation to weaken Baloch ethnic unity. This policy has fostered extremism and sectarian violence, eroding traditional Baloch social structures that once resisted radical ideologies. As the study notes, what began as a demand for autonomy has transformed into a popular call for independence, driven by decades of repression.
A Global Responsibility
Balochistan’s decades-long resistance is not just a regional issue—it’s a human rights crisis that deserves global attention. The world cannot continue to ignore the systematic repression, economic exploitation, and human suffering in the province.
Supporting the Baloch struggle should be viewed as part of the international commitment to decolonisation and human dignity. The international community, including the UN, human rights organisations, and democratic nations, must push Pakistan to end enforced disappearances, restore political freedoms, and ensure Balochistan’s right to self-determination.
Conclusion
For more than 75 years, the people of Balochistan have fought to reclaim control over their destiny. Their struggle is not for dominance, but for survival, justice, and freedom. Thousands have been martyred, yet their spirit endures.
On this Baloch Martyrdom Day, the world must not turn away. Recognising and supporting Balochistan’s fight for justice is not merely solidarity—it is a moral imperative in the global journey toward freedom and decolonisation.