Balochistan in Turmoil: How Military Overreach Fuels the Fight for Freedom

1. The Military’s Role in Fostering Political Instability and the Balochistan Revolution

The interplay between military actions, political unrest, and the Balochistan freedom revolution is intricate, tied to long-standing grievances, economic inequalities, and Pakistan’s approach to governing the province. This analysis explores how the military’s interventions have destabilized Balochistan and spurred the ongoing freedom revolution, drawing from Pakistan’s historical backdrop and the region’s unique challenges.

2. Roots of Conflict and Military Dominance

Balochistan’s incorporation into Pakistan in 1948 was far from smooth. The Khan of Kalat, Khan Mir Ahmed Yar Khan's bid for independence was quashed by military coercion, laying a foundation of mistrust between the Baloch and the central authority. This early reliance on force set a precedent for military involvement that has endured. Time and again, the Pakistani armed forces have intervened in Balochistan’s political affairs, often overshadowing civilian rule and deepening local resentment.

The 1973-1977 rebellion stands out as a pivotal moment. Sparked by Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s decision to dissolve the provincial government, the military launched a massive operation to suppress the uprising. Deploying thousands of soldiers, the campaign left a trail of human rights violations and displaced communities, transforming a political clash into an armed conflict. This aggressive stance radicalized Baloch nationalists and planted the seeds for prolonged resistance.

3. Force as a Means of Governance

The military’s preference for coercion over negotiation has entrenched instability in Balochistan. A defining episode occurred under General Pervez Musharraf’s rule (1999-2008), when Nawab Akbar Bugti, a respected tribal figure and ex-governor, was killed in a 2006 military strike. Bugti’s calls for resource rights and self-governance struck a chord with many Baloch, and his death ignited a surge in freedom revolution, amplifying the efforts of groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

The military’s approach has leaned heavily on expanding its footprint—building bases and bolstering troop numbers—which many Baloch view as an occupation. Projects like the Gwadar Port, part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), have intensified claims of resource plunder and population shifts, adding to the province’s political volatility.

4. Undermining Democracy

Military meddling has crippled Balochistan’s democratic framework, blocking peaceful avenues for addressing discontent. Tactics such as forced disappearances, unlawful killings, and targeting of dissenters have fostered an atmosphere of dread and suppression. Since the early 2000s, thousands of Baloch have disappeared, with fingers pointed at security forces. This clampdown has muted opposition and driven many, especially the young, toward freedom revolution when nonviolent options—like protests or fair elections—are crushed or manipulated.

Elections in 2018 and 2024, tainted by accusations of military interference, highlight this pattern. Baloch nationalist groups have been sidelined, while military-backed factions gain ground, eroding faith in the system. Denied a legitimate voice, rebellion becomes a compelling path for the disenfranchised.

5. Economic Marginalization Amid Military Focus

Despite its wealth in resources like natural gas, copper, and gold, Balochistan remains Pakistan’s most impoverished province. The military’s emphasis on control rather than progress has sustained this neglect, a major source of unrest. The central government siphons off resource profits—leaving Balochistan with scraps—while military stakes in land and CPEC deals heighten feelings of exploitation. This imbalance, upheld by armed oversight, reinforces the Baloch revolution’s framing as a stand against a predatory, Punjab-centric state.

6. Escalation

Military policies have created a breeding ground for freedom movements. The Balochistan Liberation Army representing the frustration of Balochistan has to carry out attacks, such as the deadly 2024 Operation Herof. The military blames foreign hands, like India or Afghanistan, but its own refusal to seek reconciliation over repression has paved the way for such involvement. Without a clear political roadmap, what began as a nationalist cause has morphed into a more violent revoltution for freedom.

7. The Military’s Rationale and Counterpoint

The armed forces maintain that their presence is vital to safeguard Pakistan’s unity against separatist and foreign threats. Initiatives like the post-2014 National Action Plan aimed to quell Balochistan freedom revolution, achieving temporary calm in the mid-2010s. Yet, renewed violence underscores that military tactics alone cannot resolve the underlying issues of exclusion, economic deprivation, and historical bitterness. Some argue—echoed in X discussions—that the military gains from ongoing turmoil, securing its influence and resources, suggesting a vested interest in instability.

8. Final Reflections

The military’s hand in destabilizing Balochistan—through past overreach, democratic suppression, economic disregard, and reliance on force—has been a driving force behind the revolution. Choosing dominance over dialogue, it has estranged the Baloch, pushed some toward radicalism, and locked the region in a loop of conflict. 

The Balochistan freedom revolution thus reflects a legitimate demand of Baloch people for a free Balochistan.