Baloch Leadership and the 1970s Insurgency in Balochistan: Reforms, Challenges, and Government Dismissal

Abstract

Baloch political leadership in contemporary Balochistan maintains a distance from the federal government, and a trust deficit exists between them. The 1970s sowed the seed of distrust between the Baloch leadership and the federal government. However, in 1972, the Baloch leadership formed government in the province of Balochistan. They attempted to implement numerous reforms in the provinces, but the federal government faced challenges from the Mengal government, ultimately leading to its dismissal in February 1973. The dismissal of the government sparked a deadly insurgency in Balochistan during the 1970s. This study aims to understand the political landscape in Balochistan and explore the circumstances that led Baloch leaders into a challenging position against Islamabad. The study focuses on answering questions such as: How did Baloch leaders like Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo and Attaullah Mengal form the provincial government? What were the reforms that faced opposition from the federal government, and why was their government dismissed? Why were Baloch leaders imprisoned, and how did the insurgency break out in Balochistan? Why did Iran get involved in countering the insurgency? This study concludes that the NAP-JUI coalition government was short-lived in Balochistan. The provincial government wanted to introduce multiple reforms to solve long-standing problems, but the central government, on the other hand, was very much against the provincial government reforms. In February 1973, Bhutto suddenly dismissed the Balochistan government. Because of this dismissal, an uprising in Balochistan began in 1973, which lasted until 1977.