Author: Ali Jan Maqsood
The history during and prior to the twentieth century is filled with open colonies where imperialists and colonialists proudly ruled the world. With the emergence of the United Nations post-World War II in 1945, the superior powers, owing to their interests, decided to curb the colonies while looking for neocolonialism to indirectly rule the world. The key difference between colonialism and neocolonialism lies in the physical presence of the colonizer: if the colonizer is directly present, it is colonialism; if the colonizer controls the political economy of a state or region without being physically present, it is neocolonialism.
The primary goal of imperialism, or colonialism, is to economically exploit the colonized while focusing on the geostrategic significance of the region. Although the modern era is said to be free from colonialism, movements across the world still demand separate states under the banner of self-determination and secession. The UN denies such claims, often referring to them as “internal matters” of the respective states. This, however, is another debate.
Balochistan, for the past seven-and-a-half decades, has been treated as a colony; nevertheless, it remains a colony. The people here strive for a good life – better and best remain distant dreams. Excessive use of force has become a norm, accompanied by other atrocities that further justify Balochistan’s status as a colony. It faces the same treatment as a traditional colony: armed forces are deployed in cities, local militias commit human rights violations openly under the state’s backing, and indigenous people’s homes and lands – including public schools and hospitals – are turned into security check-points and camps. Civilians are summoned unofficially to these camps, forcibly disappeared from their homes, and sometimes killed in staged encounters. Such practices have deepened a sense of deprivation while fostering counterforces – the only feasible solution left to many.
In Mand (Maheer area), Frontier Corps (FC) personnel have established a camp in people’s homes, against which families have been staging a sit-in protest for over a week. According to locals, the security personnel light torches at midnight on people’s homes, fly drones overhead and use other tactics to harass civilians. When law enforcement agencies themselves perpetuate anti-peace activities, one can imagine the extent of lawlessness. As one person aptly observed, “A state’s welfare status can be judged by observing its legal system.”
This situation is not limited to Mand but affects several other parts of Balochistan as well. In Makuran and Awaran, many schools and hospital buildings are occupied by uniformed personnel. Balochistan University faced a similar fate until a harassment scandal involving security forces went viral. The BUITEMS sub-campus in Quetta still houses law enforcement agencies. In the Koh-e-Sulaiman belt, residents are not only deprived of basic necessities but also subjected to daily harassment. The remote areas of Jhalawan, in particular, face ongoing assaults and harassment by both state forces and local militias. Given such conditions, it is unsurprising that the locals are engaging in collective resistance.
The practice of entering civilians’ homes at midnight, assaulting family members – including women and children – and abducting men and women has further fueled hatred among the people. In Shahrak, Suhrab Khan, a clerk, was abducted from his home, while in Absor, Nisar Phullain was kidnapped after his family was tortured and their phones confiscated. Although Suhrab was released three days later, Nisar remains in an unknown location. This pattern of enforced disappearances has evolved into more brutal forms of repression, leaving entire families – including Suhrab Khan’s father and Nisar Baloch’s sister – as its victims.
In response to these violations, people have started blocking key routes such as CPEC, organizing sit-ins at public squares, government offices, and other critical areas. On October 16, nine students were abducted from Karachi and Lasbela. While seven were released, Hanif Baloch remains missing, and Javed Baloch faces dubious terrorism charges. Families have filed petitions in high courts, but the reputation of law enforcement agencies for concocting fake charges after forcibly disappearing individuals casts doubt on any just resolution. These protests are a sign that the people’s patience is waning.
Protests and sit-ins demonstrate public anger, urging state institutions to rethink their policies toward Balochistan. However, while these actions have yielded some limited responses, they are increasingly ignored. If grievances remain unaddressed, the people may resort to harsher measures to make their voices heard. The people of Balochistan are peaceful and demand an end to human rights violations, but their patience is not infinite. Continued negligence will only exacerbate the challenges faced by the state in addressing these issues in the future.
The colonial treatment of Balochistan highlights its marginalization. Defining the region as the “land of goons ruled by chiefs” is an outdated narrative that no longer serves the state’s interests in holding back its people. The residents of Balochistan are well-informed, both politically and socially, of their circumstances and are determined to break the chains of oppression. To address this crisis, the state must engage with the people directly, listen to their grievances seriously – not through warlords disguised as parliamentarians – and ensure their fundamental rights and a better quality of life.
The writer is an advocate and a freelance journalist based in Balochistan. He can be reached at alijanmaqsood17@gmail.com and tweets on X as @Alijanmaqsood12
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Balochistan Post or any of its editors.