CIVIL WAR IN BALOCHISTAN

1973 – 1977

Since its incorporation into Pakistan in 1946, the civil war in Balochistan in 1973 was the fourth in a series of separatist insurgency movements. Soon after passing the 1973 Constitution, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto dissolved the National Awami Party government on charges of treason, believing that Baloch leaders were trying to undermine the State. The resulting insurgency, launched by Baloch students and Marri tribesmen and led by the leftist Balochistan People's Liberation Front, became the birthplace of the leftist militant organization, the Balochistan National Army (BLA).

Together with the Marri and Mengal tribes, the BLA employed standard guerrilla tactics throughout Balochistan. In retaliation, the Pakistan army sent more than 8,000 soldiers, coupled with helicopter gunships provided by Iran. The insurgency was brought to an end in 1977, the death toll being 5,000 insurgents, 3,300 army men, and hundreds of civilian, including women and children.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Ejaz, M., & Rehman, A. (2022). Exploration of the foundations of ethnic conflicts in Baluchistan: a theoretical perspective. Liberal Arts and Social Sciences International Journal (LASSIJ), 6(1), 42–55. https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.lassij/6.1.4

Grare, F. (2013, April 11). Balochistan: The state versus the nation. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. https://carnegieendowment.org/2013/04/11/balochistan-state-versus-nation-pub-51488

Tanner, T. (2019). Explaining the resilience of the Balochistan insurgency. Honors College. 533.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/533

The roots of the insurgent movement in Balochistan. (2018, October 16). Synergy: Journal of Contemporary Asian Studies. https://utsynergyjournal.org/2018/10/16/the-roots-of-the-insurgent-movement-in-balochistan/