Balochistan

Balochistan or Baluchistan holds one of the earliest human settlements in the World. It was inhabited by Balochi cave-dwellers and fishermen. Balochistan is one of the ancient inhibited land. The history goes back to around 15,000 years ago.  During the last century French archaeologists discovered a new site in Balochistan at Mehergarh (Mehregan), which is believed to be the earliest civilization in the world. It pre-dates the civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia. The site was occupied from 7,000 B.C. to 2,000 B.C. and it is the earliest Neolithic site  where "we have first evidence of domestication of animals and cereal cultivation - wheat and barely - and also the centre for craftsmanship as early as 7.000 B.C." The history of Balochistan since the settlement of Balochi tribes is a true tale of love and war. The Baloch who are inherently loving and peaceful people, have been forced to fight back for their existence and national identity throughout centuries. They have fought against various rulers and invaders. You can find a great deal at the www.baloch2000.org

1- Balochistan during Pre-historic era

Archeological and geological findings show that present day land of Balochistan was covered with water. The sea that used to cover Balochistan was known as "Tehthys". Gary Hume of Minnesota University did a great deal of research in Balochistan. The evidence show that cave-dwellers and hunters inhibited Balochistan for thousands of years. Professor Carlton Coon and Huton who had researched the area came to the conclusion that the people around Hamoon sea were engaged in fishery and hunting. These people used to be white skin.

Up to around 12,000 years ago the present day land of Balochistan used to be green, fertile and rich in greenery as well as in various types of animals. The era was known as the "wet" era since the rainfall was plentiful. What type of people inhabited the land is not known. Presence of caves and of carved stone along with other evidence dictates that Balochistan was inhabited by cave dwellers. What is know is that those cave dwellers are not the present day race of Baloch. You can find some more information on The Prehistory of Southeastern Balochistan by clicking here.

The oldest evidence to come out of Balochistan are between 10,000 to 12,000 years old. These evidence have been found both in Eastern Balochistan as well as in western Balochistan. These evidence are examined in the next section.

2- Balochistan before Christ (BC)

The geological and archeological evidence show that the rainy era finished about 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. Since then the era of dryness and barrenness started. This so-called "dry" era which is still continuous has seen gradual decrease in rainfall associated with the rise in sea level and the degradation of the land. It is no wonder that the Balochi folklore is full of songs which celebrates the earlier years of plentifullness and rain. It seems that almost all generation of the Baloch have experienced this deterioration in their life-time. 

Balochistan is one of the ancient inhibited land. The history goes back to around 15,000 years ago. Whether it was initially inhibited by the Balochi tribes or some other tribes is rather unclear. Last century French archaeologists discovered a new site in Balochistan at Mehergarh (Mehregan), which is believed to be the earliest civilisation in the world. It pre-dates the civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia. The site was occupied from 7,000 B.C. to 2,000 B.C. and it is the earliest Neolithic site where "we have first evidence of domestication of animals and cereal cultivation - wheat and barely - and also the centre or craftsmanship as early as 7.000 B.C."

Lapis Lazuli and sea-shells were used to make beautiful ornaments as found in large number of graves. The site later became a centre of production of beautifully painted pottery and human and animal figurines and such economical and social development helped to understand the process of formation of the urbanised civilisation to the west of the Indus Valley in the 3rd millennium B.C. The site of Mehergarh which is situated at the foot of the Bolan Pass also shows good evidence of contacts through trade exchanges with Afghanistan, Central Asia and Persia (Iran). Graves found at the site show that the dead were buried in flex position Children were buried separately and not mixed with the adults. He added Grave pottery was found in all the graves including ornaments of beads of high quality craftsmanship which showed connections with fishermen of Makran Coast.

There are many historical sites across Eastern Balochistan (politically part of Pakistan), Western Balochistan (politically part of Iran), and Northern Balochistan (politically part of Afghanistan). Evidence from these sites show a very clear deep rooted history of civilisation.

Amir Tavakol Kambozia wrote that Cupper was first discovered in Balochistan. It was transported from Balochistan to present day Iraq by water-born vessels.

The names Baloch and Balochistan appears in literatures as old as 2000 years ago. However, other names have been used to describe the land of Balochistan. Old Persian literature refers to Balochistan as "Macka" or Mecka as well as Mackiya and Mackiyan. The Greek used to call it "Gedrosia"  (pronounced as Gedroshia) or Gedrozia. Others used to call it Makoran or Makaran. Holdich believed that the word Makoran was originally Mahikhoran ( Fish eaters i.e. those whose staple diet was fish). Throughout centuries the word "Mahikhoran" changed into "Makoran". MarcoPolo referred to Balochistan as "Kasmakoran" or Kasmehkoran".

Balochistan during Persian Empires

Most of the literature of this era is written from a Persian view by the Farsi scholars throughout the centuries. It is clear from the literature that successive Persian dynasties tried to subdue the Baloch under their own rule. However, the history seems to be a constant fight by the Baloch against the Persian rule.

Darius (Dariyush) The Great was the first Persian king to invade Balochistan. This was the prelude to conquer India. The war between the Baloch and the Persian continued into the reign of Kaykhosrow. Ferdousi, the Great Persian poet and writer writes about the baloch as such:

*An Army of the Baloch & Kouch (Brahui).   * bred and ready like Ewes.   * They never turned their back to the battlefield.  * They were armed to teeth - not even a a finger uncovered.  * Their brave heads could reach the glaring Sun.

Nobody suffered in Balochistan as the Army of Alexander the Great. Alexander's official biographer writes: "I had never seen the Great Alexander so sad and dejected - filled with sorrow and uncertainty.  When Leon Natos, the great commander of the Alexander's ary entered balochistan, they faced fearless Balochi fighters ready to fight. They knew fighting against the Baloch was risky. Nonetheless they entered into fight against the Baloch. The outcome was disastrous for Alexander's army and against himself. They run and gathered their forces in Pahrah area ( Todays Iranshahar).

Neark(Neyarkhos), the Navy commander of Alexander, writes " The Baloch were armed with long arrows and Javeline like wooden cross. By the force of fire they had made the wood much stronger than Iron. It was these weapons which defeated macedonians."

During Sasanian era, King Ardeshir invaded Kerman and annexed it to its kingdom. He tried to do the same with Balochistan but was defeated by the Baloch. The Baloch also, from time to time, made excursions to Kerman. After the death of Ardeshir, his son, Shapoot I succeeded him. During the reign of Anosheervan, the tension between the Baloch and the Persian increased once again. Anosheervan who used to call himself Aadel (Just), planned to invade Balochistan. He gathered a very large army equipped and ready to fight. One of the greatest battle of all time took place between Anosheervan's unjust Army and the Baloch. What was the extent of the victory for either side, nobody knows.  Ferdousi who used to be a poet and writer for the Persian Kings writes:

Omar, the second khalifat of Islam, who conqured Iran, sent two of his commanders to conquer Balochistan. Initially, the primary Arab armies were defeated. Once the Arab commanders learnt about the Balochistan and Beloshi people as they call it, they told their rulers that going into Balochistan is not wise for " there is scarce water, the deate palm trees are dried and dead, bandits are very brave and fearless. If you send a small Army, it will be defeated, if you send a large Army, they will die of thirst and hunger". During the first 100 years of Islam, the Baloch refused to accept Islam. However, throughout centuries they accepted Islam as the main religion.

The next largest invasion of Balochistan was carried out by Joghtayeh Mogul ( son of Gangiz Khan). He defeated Sultan Jalal-odin and looted balochistan with little mercy.

Immediately after his crowning, Nader Shah Afshar dispatched more than 12,000 armed soldiers to conquer Balochistan. Initially they fought against 3000 armed men of Amir Mohabat Khan and Amir Imtiaz Khan ( sons of Abdullah Baloch). This battle took place around Minaab and Jask which are part of Balochistan. Nadershah sent more troops towards the Kalat (Capital of the State of Balochistan). Another war broke out between the Baloch and the Persian. However, the real winner this time was King Ahmad Durani of Afghanistan.

Bestiality, barbarity and brutality of Persian kings in treating the Baloch reached its climax during the Ghajaar dynasty. Ghajaars were a deranged mix of psychopaths, homosexuals. Initially they sent Ibrahim Zaheerodolleh to conquer Balochistan. He failed miserably. His son, Abbas Ali Mirza followed the father and failed too.

Habibollah Shahsoon, the head of Ghajaar's infantry along with another psychopath called Shahrokh Kermani ( son of Ibrahim Zaheerodolleh) invaded Balochistan while armed to the teeth. They capture Kalat (Castle) of Bampoor. Their troops proved to be absolute animals. They killed men and children, beheaded all the captured and wounded Balochi. They took women as spoils of war. The sheer brutality and barbarity even shook Tehran. Thus a new chapter opened in Balochi-Persian relationship. Since then, all Persians are called "Ghajaars". Ghajaar in the Balochi dictionary means a barbaric and wild animal in the shape of human being from Persia. Nowadays, the terms refer to Persians in general. Hence, in the eyes of the Baloch all other Persians are "Ghajaars".

 After these unholy episodes of atrocities by the Ghajaars, no Persian speaking person could remain in Balochistan. The hatred was too big to bear. So, all remnants of Persia escaped and run away from Balochistan.

The Ghajaar dynasty was toppled by the Reza Shah Pahlavi. Reza initially followed the path of his predecessors by suppressing the Baloch. Once again wars followed. Hundreds of thousands of the Baloch escaped from Balochistan. Most of them settled in Karachi and Sind. Reza Shah's war against the Baloch started from different fronts. He brought tens of thousands of troops from the north (Mashahad), north west (Kerman), Yazd, and from the west (Bander Abbass).

Balochi Sardars such as Doust Mohamed Khan Baragzahei started fighting against the fully equipped army of Iran which had been modernised by their masters i.e. the British. Eventually, the British helped Reza Shah to suppress the Baloch at all cost. The Baloch were the only nation in the region to have defeated the British. Hence, the British had a particular disliking towards the Baloch. Thousands of the Baloch and scores of tribal chiefs were executed in the aftermath of the war.
Click here to read more articles about the History
People Home Page Balochistan Baloch Baluchistan Balouchestan