The Beginning of Colonial Occupation
In 1839, the British Army sought permission to pass through Balochistan for its invasion of Afghanistan, but Khan of Balochistan Mir Mehrab Khan refused. Following this refusal, British forces attacked Kalat on 13 November 1839. Mir Mehrab Khan, along with hundreds of his companions, was martyred while defending his homeland, and Balochistan came under British occupation.
Later, Britain divided Balochistan through imposed agreements and by installing loyal rulers. Vast parts of Balochistan were separated from the central state and incorporated into British India under the name “British Balochistan.” This division later became the foundation for Pakistan’s annexation of Balochistan.
11 August: The Day of Independence
Following the end of British rule, Khan of Balochistan Mir Ahmad Yar Khan declared Balochistan’s independence on 11 August 1947. On 13 August, British forces withdrew from Balochistan, and an elected parliament assumed its responsibilities. The parliament unanimously rejected the proposal to accede to Pakistan and affirmed its commitment to preserving Balochistan’s independence and sovereignty.
Jinnah, Britain, and Balochistan
Following the declaration of independence, the Prime Minister of the State of Balochistan, Sardarzada Muhammad Aslam, and Foreign Minister Douglas Fell travelled to Karachi to negotiate the return of the territories that had been leased to Britain. However, instead of discussing their return, Pakistan presented a demand for accession.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who had previously served as the legal adviser to the Khan of Balochistan, pressured the Baloch leadership to join Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the British government also refrained from supporting an independent Balochistan due to its strategic interests in the region. Official documents and correspondence of British officials indicate that Britain was unwilling to recognize Balochistan’s independence in order to safeguard its long-term interests in the region.
27 March 1948: Occupation and Resistance
On 27 March 1948, the Pakistan Army entered Kalat under the command of British General Sir Douglas Gracey, completing the occupation of Balochistan through the use of force. In response, Prince Agha Abdul Karim Ahmedzai, the Governor of Makuran, led the first Baloch resistance movement against Pakistan.
He organized former personnel of the Kalat State forces, political activists, and volunteers to launch a struggle for the restoration of Balochistan’s independence. Although the movement could not achieve its objectives due to limited resources and the absence of external support, it remains regarded as the first organized chapter of the modern Baloch national resistance.
11 August: The Day of Renewal of Commitment
11 August is not merely a historical date; it represents the ideals of Balochistan’s independence, national sovereignty, elected institutions, and the continuing struggle for freedom. Likewise, the resistance led by Prince Agha Abdul Karim stands as a symbol of the determination that the struggle for the restoration of Balochistan’s declared independence and sovereignty will never be abandoned.
In August 2008, following the session of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected central cabinet of BNM had to be postponed due to the gathering of the Baloch Students Organization (Azad). Later, Shaheed Waja Ghulam Mohammad selected 11 August, because of its historical significance, as the date for the oath-taking ceremony and named it “The Day of Renewal of Commitment.”
On 11 August 2008, at Mulla Fazul Pir in Gwader, Shaheed Naseer Kamalan, Chairman of the Election Committee formed for the BNM session, administered the oath to the newly elected central cabinet, including BNM President Shaheed Waja Ghulam Mohammad.
Since then, BNM has observed 11 August every year as the Baloch Pledge Renewal Day , where its members and the Baloch nation reaffirm their dedication and commitment to the struggle for Balochistan’s freedom. On this occasion, the pledge is renewed:
“By the land of Balochistan and the blood of Baloch martyrs, we pledge that we will never retreat from our national struggle for freedom. We will not hesitate to make any sacrifice, and we will continue our struggle until the restoration of Balochistan’s independence.”
