Balochistan

Balochistan is situated on the Iranian plateau in the eastern part of Pakistan and is split between Iran
Sistan-Balochistan province and Pakistan Balochistan province, Southern regions of Afghanistan
province Helmand, Kandahar and Nimruz also share some part of Balochistan. Pakistan has always seen
to be struggling for the development of Balochistan and has faced constant turmoil. Balochistan is at the
forefront of many geopolitical events. Since the inception of Pakistan, it has faced a constant turmoil in
Balochistan even it still struggles to secure and develop Balochistan with Chinese help. Chinese
development in Balochistan to construct Gawadar port is a major breakthrough. While India is going all
the way to complete its Chahbahar project to answer Gawadar. Balochistan on the Iranian side is
actually its underbelly, a small Sunni territory in the mostly Shia country, a place where Saudia Arabia
can make mischief using groups like Sunni Jundullah.

In ancient times Balochistan was part of Achaemenid Persian Empire. People e in Balochistan followed
Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism. The acquired a notorious reputation after their great Alexander
marching back to Babylon through its deserts leading to the deaths of thousands of soldiers. By the time
of the rise of Islam, Balochistan was loosely controlled by the Sassanid Persian Empire which faced an
onslaught by Arabs consequently it passed to the Rai Dynasty of Sindh, Arab defeated this dynasty in
644 and conquered Makran(The Then Balochistan).

In the 11th century, Seljuk Turks invaded Persia which stimulated the migration nomadic tribes(ancestors
of Balochistan) of central Iran and the area south of the Caspian sea into Balochistan. Around the same
time, Balochistan largest minority Barohi migrated for central India into Balochistan and formed a
symbiotic relationship with Baloch.

In 1500’s Balochistan was divided into 2 parts controlled by Safavid Persian Empire in West and Mughal
Empire in East. For Mughals, this region was of little importance so control was delegated to a local
vassal organized by Khanate of Kalat in 1666, on behalf of Mughals, Kalat ruled over the vassals of the
states of Lasbela, Kharan, and Makran. In 1783 Kalat gave the suzerainty to the port of Gawader to a
man who later became the sultan of Oman and who decided to keep it as part of his domains. Pakistan
had to buy it back from Oman in 1958. The division of Balochistan into western and eastern part lapsed
in