Overview

Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by area, is grappling with multifaceted problems that

have persisted for decades. These issues are deeply rooted in political, economic, social, and security

dimensions, affecting the lives of its approximately 15 million residents. The province's strategic location

and rich resources contrast sharply with its underdevelopment, making it a focal point of contention.

#### Historical and Political Context

The political problems in Balochistan trace back to its integration into Pakistan in 1948,

following a period of negotiations and coercion after the Khan of Kalat initially declared independence in

1947 ([Balochistan, Pakistan - Wikipedia]([Link] The

One Unit policy, implemented in 1955 and dissolved in 1970, merged Balochistan into West Pakistan,

significantly reducing its political autonomy and representation ([Insurgency in Balochistan - Wikipedia]

([Link] This historical marginalization has fueled

demands for greater autonomy or outright secession, with Baloch nationalists citing limited control over

provincial resources and underrepresentation in federal politics.

A key driver of political unrest is the Baloch separatist movement, which has seen multiple

insurgencies, notably since 2004, with roots in earlier conflicts like the Third Balochistan Conflict (1963-

1969) ([Third Balochistan conflict -

Wikipedia]([Link] The movement's demands,

ranging from cultural and economic rights to political autonomy, are articulated by groups like the
Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) ([Balochistan Liberation Army -

Wikipedia]([Link] These groups have accused the

Pakistani government of exploiting resources without reinvestment, a grievance compounded by human

rights violations, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, documented by activists

and international bodies ([Balochistan: The State Versus the Nation - Carnegie Endowment for

International Peace]([Link]

51488)).

Recent protests, such as those organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in 2024,

highlight ongoing issues like enforced disappearances and inadequate governance, with women playing a

significant role, as seen in demonstrations led by figures like Mahrang Baloch ([Why protest by ethnic

Baloch has put Pakistan’s key port of Gwadar on edge | Al

Jazeera]([Link]

port-of-gwadar-on-edge)). These events underscore the political tension, with the provincial government's

failure to provide essential services like healthcare and education adding to the discontent ([Unrest in the

Balochistan Region - Current Affairs]([Link]

the-balochistan-region)).

#### Economic Challenges

Economically, Balochistan is a paradox: rich in natural resources yet underdeveloped. It accounts

for nearly 40% of Pakistan's primary energy production, with over 33% of the country's natural gas

deposits, 9% of coal, and 2% of untapped oil reserves ([BALOCHISTAN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY]

([Link] Despite this, its contribution to Pakistan's

([Balochistan, Pakistan - Wikipedia]([Link] This

discrepancy is attributed to the federal government's control over resource revenues, with little

reinvestment in the province, fueling economic grievances.

Poverty rates are alarmingly high, with recent estimates indicating 70% of the population living

below the poverty line, rising to 85% in rural areas ([Poverty rate increases in Pakistan from 38.6pc to

39.5pc in five years: PIDE - The Nation]([Link]

increases-in-pakistan-from-38-6pc-to-39-5pc-in-five-years-pide)). The Balochistan Drought Needs

Assessment (BDNA) Report from February 2019 notes 71% multidimensional poverty, with urban areas

at 38% and rural at 85% ([Balochistan Drought Needs Assessment (BDNA) Report (February 2019) -

Pakistan | ReliefWeb]([Link]

report-february-2019)). Districts like Washuk have poverty rates as high as 72.5%, contrasting with

wealthier districts like Islamabad at 5.8% ([Poverty in Pakistan -

Wikipedia]([Link]

Literacy rates are low, at 54.5% overall as of 2023, with 69.5% for males and 36.8% for females,

and higher illiteracy in rural areas (50%) compared to urban (32%) ([Breakdown of Literacy Rates of All

Provinces - ProPakistani]([Link]

provinces/)). Health indicators are similarly poor, with high infant and maternal mortality rates,

contributing to the province's status as the least developed in Pakistan ([Balochistan: Overview of its Geo-

economic and Socio-economic Perspectives | Review of Applied Management and Social Sciences]

([Link] Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) in

general government services is the lowest among provinces, at Rs 144.5 billion compared to Rs 221.0
billion in Punjab, indicating limited investment ([Balochistan: The Unrealised

Potential]([Link]

#### Social Dynamics and Tensions

Socially, Balochistan is marked by ethnic tensions, particularly between the Baloch and Pashtun

communities, with the latter concentrated in the north. The Baloch, the predominant ethnic group, feel

marginalized, and separatists have targeted civilians from other ethnicities, including Pashtuns and settlers

from Punjab, exacerbating social strife ([Insurgency in Balochistan -

Wikipedia]([Link] Sectarian violence, especially

against the Shia community, has risen in the 2010s, contributing to tensions, though not always directly

linked to the political struggle ([Pakistan’s Baloch Insurgency: History, Conflict Drivers, and Regional

Implications — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

REVIEW]([Link]

Human rights abuses are a significant social issue, with reports of enforced disappearances,

extrajudicial killings, and torture by security forces, documented in mass grave discoveries and protests

([Balochistan: The untold story of Pakistan's other war - BBC News]([Link]

asia-26272897)). These abuses, often attributed to the Frontier Corps and other paramilitary units, have

fueled the insurgency and international criticism, with groups like Amnesty International highlighting the

issue.
 Education and health services are severely lacking, with literacy rates reflecting the province's

underdevelopment. The low literacy rate, coupled with high poverty, limits social mobility and

perpetuates cycles of deprivation, particularly for women, who face higher illiteracy rates (63% compared

to 30% for males) ([Balochistan Drought Needs Assessment (BDNA) Report (February 2019) - Pakistan |

ReliefWeb]([Link]

february-2019)).

#### Security and Insurgency

Security challenges are dominated by the Baloch insurgency, a low-scale but ongoing conflict

primarily in southern Balochistan, with groups like the BLA, BLF, and Baloch Republican Army (BRA)

seeking independence ([Pakistan Faces Rising Separatist Insurgency in Balochistan - New Lines Institute]

([Link]

The insurgency, dating back to 1948, has seen escalations, with recent tactics including suicide bombings,

as seen in the November 9, 2024, attack in Quetta, killing 32 and injuring 62 ([Balochistan Liberation

Army - Wikipedia]([Link]

A notable recent event was the March 11, 2025, train hijacking by the BLA, where hostages were

held for 36 hours, ending with a military rescue operation that killed over 30 militants ([Who are the

Pakistani Baloch separatist militants behind train hijacking? |

Reuters]([Link]

behind-train-hijacking-2025-03-11/), [The Balochistan Separatist Movement in Pakistan: What to Know -

The New York Times]([Link]

[Link])). This escalation underscores the conflict's intensity, with the BLA targeting not only
security forces but also Chinese interests, linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

projects like Gwadar port.

Beyond Baloch separatists, Islamist militant groups, including Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and potentially

ISIS, operate in the province, contributing to sectarian violence and complicating security dynamics

([Balochistan: The untold story of Pakistan's other war - BBC News]([Link]

asia-26272897)). The Pakistani government's strategy, including alleged support for Islamist proxies to

counter Baloch nationalists, has led to a hotbed of extremism, particularly in northern and central

Balochistan ([Balochistan: The State Versus the Nation - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]

([Link]

Cross-border tensions add another layer, with Pakistan and Iran conducting strikes in January

2024 against militant groups like Jaish al-Adl and BLA in each other's territories, reflecting the regional

dimension of the conflict ([Pakistan-Iran strikes: Where is Balochistan and why is it being targeted? -

BBC News]([Link] Balochistan's proximity to Afghanistan,

a haven for militants, further complicates security, with historical support from Afghanistan to Baloch

militants in the 1960s and 1970s ([Baloch nationalism -

Wikipedia]([Link]

#### Comparative Analysis

To illustrate the disparities, the following table compares key socioeconomic indicators for

Balochistan with national averages and other provinces:

Pakhtunkhwa |

|----------------------------|-------------------|------------------|--------------|--------------|---------------------

| Poverty Rate (%) | 70 | 39.5 | 30 | 45 | 48 |

| Literacy Rate (%) | 54.5 | ~60 | ~66.3 | ~61.8 | ~55.1 |

| Rural Poverty Rate (%) | 85 | 51 | ~35 | ~50 | ~55 |

| Contribution to GDP (%) | 3-4 |- | ~60.58 | ~23.7 | ~8 |

Note: National literacy rate is an estimate based on historical data; exact figures may vary by

year.

This table highlights Balochistan's lag in development, with poverty and literacy rates

significantly worse than national and provincial averages, underscoring the economic and social

challenges.

#### Impact of Development Projects: CPEC

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a major development initiative, with

significant projects in Balochistan, particularly the Gwadar port. However, research suggests that the
benefits are not reaching the local population, with reports indicating that Chinese companies receive

91% of Gwadar Port revenue, leaving only 9% for the local authority ([China–Pakistan Economic

Corridor - Wikipedia]([Link]

%25E2%2580%2593Pakistan_Economic_Corridor)). This has fueled resentment, with Baloch senators

claiming the province would not benefit, and insurgent groups targeting CPEC infrastructure ([CPEC in

Balochistan – The Diplomat]([Link]

#### Cross-Border Dynamics

Balochistan's borders with Iran and Afghanistan are porous, facilitating insurgent movement and

complicating security efforts. Tensions with Iran have escalated, with both countries conducting cross-

border strikes in January 2024 against militant groups like Jaish al-Adl and BLA, reflecting the regional

dimension ([Pakistan-Iran strikes: Where is Balochistan and why is it being targeted? - BBC News]

([Link] Historical support from Afghanistan to Baloch

militants and allegations of external backing add to the complexity ([Insurgency in Balochistan -

Wikipedia]([Link]

#### Conclusion

Balochistan's problems are deeply interconnected, with political marginalization fueling

economic underdevelopment, social tensions, and security challenges. Addressing these requires a

multifaceted approach, including political dialogue, equitable resource distribution, investment in

deprivation is likely to persist, affecting not only Balochistan but regional stability.

### Key Citations

- [Insurgency in Balochistan -

Wikipedia]([Link]

- [Balochistan, Pakistan - Wikipedia]([Link]

- [Poverty in Pakistan - Wikipedia]([Link]

- [Human rights abuses in Balochistan -

Wikipedia]([Link]

- [China–Pakistan Economic Corridor - Wikipedia]([Link]

%25E2%2580%2593Pakistan_Economic_Corridor)

- [BALOCHISTAN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY]([Link]

economic-activity/)

- [Poverty rate increases in Pakistan from 38.6pc to 39.5pc in five years: PIDE - The Nation]

([Link]

five-years-pide)

- [Balochistan Drought Needs Assessment (BDNA) Report (February 2019) - Pakistan |

ReliefWeb]([Link]

february-2019)

- [Breakdown of Literacy Rates of All Provinces -

ProPakistani]([Link]
 - [Balochistan: Overview of its Geo-economic and Socio-economic Perspectives | Review of

Applied Management and Social Sciences]([Link]

- [Balochistan: The Unrealised Potential]([Link]

potential/)

- [Pakistan’s Baloch Insurgency: History, Conflict Drivers, and Regional Implications — THE

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

REVIEW]([Link]

- [Balochistan: The State Versus the Nation - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]

([Link]

- [Balochistan: The untold story of Pakistan's other war - BBC

News]([Link]

- [Pakistan-Iran strikes: Where is Balochistan and why is it being targeted? - BBC News]

([Link]

- [Who are the Pakistani Baloch separatist militants behind train hijacking? |

Reuters]([Link]

behind-train-hijacking-2025-03-11/)

- [The Balochistan Separatist Movement in Pakistan: What to Know - The New York Times]

([Link]

- [Balochistan Liberation Army -

Wikipedia]([Link]

- [Third Balochistan conflict -

Wikipedia]([Link]
 - [Baloch nationalism - Wikipedia]([Link]

- [Pakistan Faces Rising Separatist Insurgency in Balochistan - New Lines

Institute]([Link]

balochistan/)

- [Why protest by ethnic Baloch has put Pakistan’s key port of Gwadar on edge | Al Jazeera]

([Link]

gwadar-on-edge)

- [Unrest in the Balochistan Region - Current Affairs]([Link]

affairs/28-08-2024/unrest-in-the-balochistan-region)

- [Repression and Revolt in Balochistan: The Uncertainty and Survival of a People’s National]

([Link]

uncertainty-and-survival-of-a-peoples/)