August 11 – The Independence and Sovereignty Day of the Baloch Nation
Balochistan is not just a piece of land on today’s political map—it is an ancient nation with centuries of independent history before the arrival of European colonialism. For generations, the Baloch governed themselves under their own political, social, and cultural systems. No foreign power ever exercised full authority over this land—until the age of imperial expansion changed the fate of our homeland.
When the East India Company and later the British Crown set foot in the Indian subcontinent, they also set their sights on Balochistan. Yet, unlike India, they could not simply swallow Balochistan into their colonial empire. The fierce resistance of the Baloch made direct conquest impossible. Instead, the British resorted to deception, unequal treaties, political intrigues, and military coercion to weaken the Baloch state from within.
This long-term colonial strategy eventually led to the forcible partition of Balochistan into three occupied parts—divided between Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. This was not an accident of history—it was a deliberate imperial design to weaken the Baloch nation and keep it from rising again.
As the British prepared to leave the subcontinent after World War II, they sowed religious division between Hindus and Muslims to prevent the formation of a united India. They promoted the poisonous idea that Muslims were “pure” and Hindus “impure,” paving the way for the creation of the so-called Pakistan—the “Land of the Pure.” For the Baloch, this artificial state quickly became a tool of oppression and a curse on our national existence.
August 11, 1947 – A Nation Reclaims Its Independence
In the final days of British rule, the Khanate of Kalat—the central part of Balochistan—still maintained its own governance. As the partition of India approached, fears grew that this sovereign state would be forcibly absorbed into Pakistan.
On August 11, 1947, in the capital city of Kalat, Khan Mir Ahmad Yar Khan, ruler of Balochistan, formally declared independence from British colonial rule. All India Radio broadcast the historic words:
“The State of Kalat has decided to regain its independent status as of 11th August 1947. The Khan of Kalat declares that Kalat shall henceforth be a sovereign and independent state, having friendly relations with all nations, particularly with its neighbours, India and Pakistan.”
For the Baloch nation, this was not the birth of something new—it was the restoration of an ancient sovereignty that had been stolen.
March 27, 1948 – The Beginning of Occupation
Our restored freedom was brutally short-lived. On March 27, 1948, Pakistan invaded our land, overthrew our sovereignty, and annexed Balochistan at gunpoint. This military occupation marked the beginning of decades of tyranny—mass killings, enforced disappearances, looting of resources, cultural suppression, and political subjugation.
The Meaning of August 11 Today
In 2008, Shaheed Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, leader of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), reaffirmed the political and symbolic power of this date, naming it the “Day of Renewal of Commitment”—a call for every Baloch to remember our history, reject occupation, and commit to the struggle for national liberation.
Today, August 11 is marked not only in occupied Balochistan, but also in exile across the world. From the mountains of Makran to the streets of Europe and North America, the Baloch gather to raise our flag, speak our truth, and declare to the world that we will never accept Pakistan’s illegitimate rule.
Our Declaration to the World
For the Baloch nation, August 11 is not just a date in history—it is a living testament that Balochistan was a free country, and that our freedom was stolen by force. It is a reminder that our struggle for self-determination is not born from ideology alone, but from a continuous history of sovereignty and resistance.
Baloch nation declare to the world:
• We reject Pakistan’s & Irans's occupation of our homeland.
• We demand the recognition of Balochistan’s right to independence.
• We will continue our struggle—generation after generation—until our land is free again.
