BALOCH-BRITISH RELATIONS

In 1839, when the British army advanced
through Balochistan towards Afghanistan, they battled with the
Baloch for the first time. During this conflict, 400 Baloch were
killed along with Mehrab Khan (ruler of Balochistan), and the
British took 2,000 Baloch prisoners of war. After recognizing
Mehrab Khan’s young son, Nasir Khan II, as his successor, the
Baloch and British signed their first treaty in 1841 that dealt
with “Military Offensive and Defensive” matters. The British
vacated Balochistan after the treaty was signed, and until 1854,
there were no major diplomatic interactions between the Baloch
and the British.


On May 14th, 1854, a new Treaty was signed
which annulled the 1841 Treaty. The new Treaty focused on
“Alliance, Defensive and Offensive” matters. It also demanded
the Baloch rulers to oppose all enemies of the British
government; required British consent prior to any Baloch ruler
could negotiate with any other state; and it permitted the
British to station troops within selected parts of Balochistan.


When the Baloch ruler broke certain
provisions of the 1854 Treaty, diplomatic relations between
Balochistan and British were discontinued in 1874. But, after
two years, in 1876 the Treaty of 1854 was rectified with minor
modifications allowing the British government to mediate any
Baloch tribal disputes, and lease Quetta valley to establish a
military cantonment. Although the Baloch ruler’s writ still ran
over Balochistan, but now it was under the watchful eye of a
British Indian government.


From 1890 to 1891, to contain the Pashtun
tribes of the Suleman Mountains from conducting border raids,
the British carried out a series of military expeditions that
resulted in the occupation of Zhob valley. Soon afterwards, they
constructed a cantonment at Fort Sandeman along with extensions
of a line of outposts.

In 1893, serious differences arose between
the ruler of Balochistan, Mir Khodadad Khan and the British.
Soon after, on instigation of the British, Mir Mahmud Khan
deposed his father and became the new ruler of Balochistan in
November 1893. By July 1899, the Baloch administration had
negotiated perpetual lease and transfer of management to British
agency of the Nushki district and Niabat with all rights,
jurisdiction and administrative power, in lieu of perpetual
rent. This secured direct British control of the great highway
connecting Quetta to Taftan. This arrangement prevailed till
August 1947 when British India was dissolved.



SOVEREIGNTY OF BALOCHISTAN


On August 11, 1947, the British acceded
control of Balochistan to the ruler of Balochistan, His Highness
Mir Ahmad Yar Khan - the Khan of Kalat. The Khan immediately
declared the independence of Balochistan, and Mohammad Ali
Jinnah signed the proclamation of Balochistan’s sovereignty
under the Khan.



The New York Times reported on August 12,
1947: “Under the agreement, Pakistan recognizes Kalat as an
independent sovereign state with a status different from that of
the Indian States. An announcement from New Delhi said that
Kalat, Moslem State in Baluchistan, has reached an agreement
with Pakistan for free flow of communications and commerce, and
would negotiate for decisions on defense, external affairs and
communications.” The next day, the NY Times even printed a map
of the world showing Balochistan as a fully independent country.


According to the Indian Independence Act
1947, all treaties and agreements between the British Government
and the rulers of States were terminated as of August 15, 1947.
On that day, the Khan addressed a large gathering in Kalat and
formally declared the full independence of Balochistan, and
proclaimed the 15th day of August a day of celebration. The Khan
formed the lower and upper house of Kalat Assembly, and during
the first meeting of the Lower House in early September 1947,
the Assembly confirmed the independence of Balochistan.



Jinnah tried to persuade the Khan to join
Pakistan, but the Khan and both Houses of the Kalat Assembly
refused. The Pakistani government took an aggressive stance
against Balochistan, and in March 1948, the Pakistani armed
forces started their operation against the Balochistan
government. They invaded Balochistan on April 15th, 1948, and
imprisoned all members of the Kalat Assembly.

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