14 August: The Black Day in Baloch Memory
Editorial
For the colonial state of Pakistan, 14 August represents its so-called “independence”, in real sense its creation, but for the Baloch people, the date carries an entirely different meaning. It is remembered as a symbol of the political order that emerged in the aftermath of British colonial rule and through which Balochistan’s political autonomy was ultimately extinguished. The partition of British India in 1947 created two new dominions, India and Pakistan, mainly on the basis of religion. While India existed before, but Pakistan was the new creation of British empire to serve her interests in the region. This creation left unresolved the political status of princely states and territories that had existed under British paramountcy. The British Empire was withdrawing, but its strategic calculations did not disappear overnight. British policymakers were deeply concerned with preserving their geopolitical and military interests in South Asia and the approaches toward the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Persian Gulf. Therefore, the creation of Pakistan was not only through communal politics and the demand for a Muslim state, but was the wider strategic calculations surrounding Britain’s withdrawal and its continuing interests in the region.
The central issue is what happened to Balochistan when British paramountcy ended. Balochistan was not a single administrative unit under British rule; however British divided Balochistan and it consisted of British-administered territories alongside princely states, including the Khanate of Kalat and the states of Makran, Kharan, and Las Bela. The political status of Kalat became particularly important as the British prepared to leave. Kalat declared its independence on 11 August 1947, and the Baloch people possessed a political existence that could not simply be absorbed into the newly created Pakistan. This disagreement over sovereignty remains one of the foundational historical disputes between the Pakistani state narrative and Baloch nationalism.
The dispute became decisive in March 1948, when Kalat was attacked and occupied on 27 March 1948. This ended the brief period of independence but created a wave of resistance against Pakistan’s occupation that continues to this day. What cannot be ignored, however, is that the occupation was followed by resistance. At the same time as Pakistan laid its greedy hands over Balochistan, the rebellion led by Prince Abdul Karim in 1948 demonstrated that the occupation did not produce political consensus across Baloch society.
Therefore, the meaning of 14 August cannot be separated from the events of 11 August 1947 and 27 March 1948. Consequently, when Pakistan celebrates 14 August, the Baloch see it as the beginning of a colonial period. The designation of 14 August as a Black Day is an expression of historical oppression: a rejection of a state formation that today exists as a terrorist state in the region and serves the interests of superpowers. Even years after its formation, it is still the most politically unstable state in the region that has committed every form of human rights violation, kept innocent lives in misery, and practiced genocide in its every place, including Balochistan, Kashmir, KPK, and Sindh.
On this day, Pakistani barbaric military attacked at a home of Baloch political workers Imdad Bojair, on 14 August, 2013 at Turbat, and martyred two brave intellects, Raza Jahangeer and Imdad Bojair. While in another incident on the preparation of its so-called 14 August event, Pakistani troops brutally killed a 23 years old student, Hayath Baloch in Turbat, Kech. These are mere examples of same day brutalities, however this barbaric state continued its oppression on Baloch nation since its creation. Pakistan only brought pain and suffering to Baloch and surrounding nations and has been a black spot in the name of a state.
Therefore, this day is merely a Black Day for every Baloch and for surrounding nations that suffer due to the existence of Pakistan. Thus, 14 August becomes a day of mourning for every Baloch—a reminder that the end of British colonialism did not bring an end to the political subordination of Balochistan. The black flag raised today represents hatred toward the state of Pakistan and a clear rejection of its rule and political order. On this Black day, we stand firm in our commitments to resist this immoral and unnatural state of Pakistan, and regain our sovereignty through resistance and collective struggle of our people.