Balochistan (From Strategic Significance to US Involvement)

Abstract

Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan in terms of landmass and is the least literate. It became a part of Pakistan, when the British withdrawal took place on August 14, 1947 yet got the status of province after 23 years in 1972. Needless to say that it has been overlooked since the British rule. But it is important to note that the location of Balochistan, connecting Iranian Plateau with South East Asia, Central Asia to its long coast line in the shores of the Arabian Sea, makes it geographically an important place. In the recent months, Balochistan has come into limelight in the international media and the resistance movements have risen to the extent where the Baloch are demanding liberation and separation. It is very much evident that the geo-policies of Balochistan, internal contradictions in Baloch society, state response and the foreign hand have aggravated the problems in the province. This paper is an attempt to focus on the strategic significance of Balochistan and how does it provide an opportunity to Baloch nationalists in order to deal with big superpowers for the liberation of the country. The paper aims at discussing, the real factors behind the US interest in Balochistan and how the foreign involvement can be stopped, particularly at a time when it has reached at the brink of separation.