BALOCHISTAN | Pakistan's Geopolitical Problem?

In early February 2022, members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) launched a coordinated attack against several military bases near Quetta, the provincial capital of the Pakistan's largest province. By all accounts this marks a dramatic escalation of an insurgency that has its roots in events that occurred over 70 years ago. And yet, despite its long history, the independence movement in Balochistan is still relatively little known internationally. This is all the more surprising given that it is having an increasingly serious effects on Pakistan’s regional relations, especially its ties to neighbouring China.
Hello and welcome! My name is James Ker-Lindsay. Here I take an informed look at International Relations with a focus on territorial conflicts, secession, independence movements and new countries. If you like what you see, please do subscribe. If you want more, including exclusive content and benefits, consider becoming a channel member. Many thanks!
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In 1947, British India was partitioned, becoming India and Pakistan. While this saw many of the princely states incorporated into the new countries, several opted for independence. This included the Khanate of Kalat, the largest of the states in the region of Balochistan (also known as Baluchistan), which birders Afghanistan and Iran. However, within a year, it had been absorbed by Pakistan, much the the opposition of many ethnic Balochs, who regarded the decision as illegitimate. Since then, there have been at least five major uprisings against Pakistani rule, the most recent of which began in 2005. This latest insurgency, which has led to extensive human rights abuses, has been driven by the fact that while the sparsely-populated Balochistan is resource rich, it has long been the poorest and least developed region of Pakistan. But what makes the current campaign stand out is the wider effects it is having. The activities of the Baluchistan Liberation Army - as well as other insurgent groups - is also disrupting China’s efforts to develop infrastructure ties with Pakistan as part of its flagship Belt and Road Initiative. Following on from this, the recent attacks could also put a strain on Pakistan already difficult ties with India and, more unexpectedly, Afghanistan.
Chapters
0:00 Introduction and Titles
0:36 The International Effects of Independence Insurgencies
1:09 Pakistan and Balochistan: Geography and Demographics
2:28 A Brief History of Balochistan
4:13 Balochistan’s Uprisings Against Pakistani Rule
4:48 The Origins and Evolution of Current Balochistan Uprising
6:02 Escalating Violence in Balochistan
7:43 Balochistan, Pakistan and China
9:26 Balochistan and Relations with India and Afghanistan
10:49 The Uprising in Balochistan
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Secession and Independence in Asia and Oceania • ASIA AND OCEANIA
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FURTHER READING & USEFUL SOURCES
Balochistan Government balochistan.gov.pk
CPEC Authority cpec.gov.pk
The Accession of Kalat: Myth and Reality www.jstor.org/stable/45242356
Pakistan: A Hard Country amzn.to/3uWlQdX
Pakistan: A Very Short Introduction amzn.to/3v0Dqh1
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KEYWORDS
#Balochistan #Pakistan #China
#InternationalPolitics #CurrentAffairs #InternationalRelations
#Secession #Statehood #Independence #India #Afghanistan
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[@JamesKerLindsay]

This was a case that I had been meaning to explore for ages. It is so interesting on so many levels, not least of all because it is surprisingly little known. It would be particularly interesting to hear thoughts on the conflict from those in the wider region. How much coverage does in get in Pakistan and India? And what are the wider views on the conflict?

[@dr.batman2530]

In India, the media coverage is not that much as you might expect. Over the years anyway Indians are not giving attention to Pakistan unless there is a terrorist attack (when ofcourse the whole nation bays for Pakistan's blood). But on Social media though, the recent attacks trended a lot on Indian Twitter. But it was more of a schadenfreude, given the Pakistani track record of cross border terrorism.

[@zccau2316]

@@dr.batman2530 Pakistan is on the minds of Indians 24/7. Have you not seen WION or ThePrint LMAOO???? What are you on dude

[@dr.batman2530]

@@zccau2316 one would be really stupid if he thinks Indian media obsesses over Pakistan. Except for some fleeting remarks whenever something happens in Afghanistan, Balochistan or when Imran Khan goes abroad begging for aid, nobody gives a damn. And as for common Indians, even less so. Pakistan becomes important in Indian narrative only when there is a terrorist attack. Then everyone asks for some blood.

[@zccau2316]

@@dr.batman2530 I literally gave you examples mate. Don’t talk about the economy. Pretty sure it was your country that tanked last year and your covid policy was so bad millions of people died but was covered up. Don’t start buddy

[@yayayayya4731]

Balochistan doesn't get a lot of attention in Indian media except on indian social media handles and stuff.

[@aminbaloch8195]

Thank you Prof. for topic of Balochistan, whose forgotten people with thousands years history and culture, a rich land with natural rosources ignored by world authorities especially European states. Look forward to see more about Balochistan.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you. It is incredibly how little attention it gets internationally given the region's history and its wider strategic significance.

[@durontooprotiroddho8316]

@@JamesKerLindsay Are you Anti-Pakistani minded????

[@maverickkhan777]

Endian fake account spotted

[@maverickkhan777]

Go Look today News 🇵🇰🇵🇰 . Pakistan Army conducted a Huge SSG Commando's operation and killed 25 that Raw Endia Iran backed BLF terrorists who were involved in last week border attack on Pakistan military post. #Pak Army start hunting 😎

[@alikhan-iy7uu]

Corrupt politicians, on the army payroll are condemned by their own people, like pathans punjabis, sindhis etc, condemning their corrupt elders/leaders, but no Baluch(even the rebels) Never condemn their sardar, no matter how corrupt and no matter how much money they take from islamabad/pindi.

[@naseemMastoiBaloch]

I'm a Native Baloch Living in Capital city of Balochistan Quetta, I want to Say Thank you Sir For Highlighting Such an Important Knowledge about Balochistan It Will Definitely gonna Clear Multiple Confusions about Balochistan to People Who Don't Know about Balochistan and It's Geopolitics 💞

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much for the extremely kind comment. It is always difficult to cover such complex and important issues from afar, but I hope I did it fairly. Wishing you all the best from London.

[@nagesh5351]

"BLA using sophisticated weapons" - I guess it's the same weapons the US had left behind in Afghanistan

[@shouhazbaloch290]

BLA getting weapons from battle between accupation amy Pokistan .

[@AliKhan-uf2rc]

@@globalcitizen1856 Who the hell are You ???Do you any thing about Balochistan ,We Baloch are Fighting For Freedom.

[@FahadFSA]

@@shouhazbaloch290 sir black Vigo will soon pay you a visit.

[@rudra20048]

Maybe India supply weapons to them after all India Pakistan rivalry is greatest

[@AliKhan-uf2rc]

@@rudra20048Nice joke

[@briancops3798]

Thank you so much for covering this topic. It is happening under the radar and frankly, I forgot about it due to the lack of coverage. 0Very impressive how you managed to cover this topic in only 12 minutes, congrats and keep up the good work!

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much as ever Brian. I struggled s bit with this one. There were several angles to try to cover and so it’s nice to hear that you thought I managed it well! :-) Have a great weekend.

[@alltimesmovies4795]

@@JamesKerLindsay And you should also make a video of all independent movements in India khaliistan movement, Nagaland and many more you Google it you will find.

[@Balochistan_Baloch_007]

@All times movi .... You are part of Pakistani Punjapi Establishment

[@Avicerox]

@@Balochistan_Baloch_007 Lol what?

[@doitdifferent2629]

I am a Punjabi. And it's sad for me to see how our governments have been neglecting such a important part of our country for decades. We demand justice for Balochistan

[@Tribuneoftheplebs]

Fantastic video as always. Thanks James!

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much! Have a great weekend.

[@moshehaifa]

Fascinating video, thank you!

[@existentialvoid]

This is actually a pretty big issue in that part of the world - it really is so little known and thank you for covering it.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks so much. I know they don’t usually do as well as many of my other videos on Europe, but that’s exactly why I do try to cover these sorts of issues. They are incredibly important in their own right and their own regions. But they can also have surprisingly wide effects too.

[@nepaliman5716]

I met guy from Baloch, very nice. His hate for Pakistan was quite surprising. I hope peace will prevail there, and people get what they deserve. Heavy handed approach toward baloch people will only fan tension .. .

[@jhalawanbaloch8059]

Free Balochistan

[@husnainumar2451]

Gadhar

[@majnu1763]

Hey afghan baloch how r u?

[@speed999-uj5kr]

Thanks for taking this issue❤

[@mathseasyasabcde5995]

Thank for the information

[@nut6043]

Thanks for this video! Was reading the france24 article on good Taliban-bad Taliban and this really shed a lot more light on the historical context of this issue

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much. It really is interesting to look at the situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan under the Taliban. Things aren't quite as straightforward as they seem.

[@nabilalhami1681]

3:24 Finally, Mr James pronounced 'Bangladesh' properly to an extent, unlike his previous way of pronunciation, especially in his Bangladesh independence video (Off topic statement). Also the addition of sound effect in pinpointing location sounds good.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. In the previous video I said it pretty much as we’d say it in Britain. But I thought it would be good to give it a closer approximation to how it should be said. It’s actually rather nicer I think.

[@bernd_das_brot6911]

@@JamesKerLindsay I think it’s very professional of you to learn how to pronounce a country you have learned from youth had a different pronunciation! Love your channel

[@hashimawan2433]

@@JamesKerLindsay Do a video on the MQM Party in Karachi and about its self exiled leader Altaf Hussain who's hiding in London and Pakistani officials believe that the MI6 and probably the CIA too are using him to eventually separate Karachi from Pakistan!

[@hashimawan2433]

@Ander Jamal lol That's mostly Propaganda! Those that support that idea are less than 1%,only the Baloch have rebels and those too are just 39%!

[@EdMcF1]

Bangladesh is pronounced 'Bangladesh' in English, end of.

[@rshaikh05]

thank you prof james for covering so much in so little time. it is difficult to cover so many issues and not blame anybody for them.

[@slimjimvortivask7350]

Amazing coverage Mr Ker-Lindsay. 👏

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much. It’s such an interesting situation, and yet gets so little wider international attention.

[@KarthikAyyalasomayajula]

A fun (?) fact: Iran also has a Baloch majority area and during the 1971 Indo Pak war when there were fears India would invade West Pakistan, Iran drew up its own plans to invade and secure Pakistani Balochistan to prevent destabilization in their own part

[@ahmedmukhtar6961]

show me a source to that information. if you don't have source then i will assume this is a fairytale you dad taught you as a kid.

[@claymore993]

Another fun fact: Iran provided F 86E Sabre equipment and support material to Pakistan during 1971 war. In both 65 and 71 wars, Pakistan moved all troops from Iran Afghan borders to front lines.

[@ahmedmukhtar6961]

@@claymore993 Iran also provided us oil during 1965 war too lol. These people don't know anything about the history 😂

[@kaustubhlunawat7827]

@@claymore993 And Pakistan still lost? I guess no amount of help can get them to win.

[@claymore993]

@@kaustubhlunawat7827 and India has always played both sides in garb of neutrality. India takes arms and equipment from both russia and west. In terms of help India always had more than Pakistan.

[@jibranbaloch7650]

Thank you for being our voice to civilized world. Love from Balochistan ❤️

[@IlluminatingLamp]

Tu baloch az pakistan hasti?

[@saniaamirbaaz8850]

Baluchistan liberation army doesn’t have enough popularity to make it a free country so far the Pakistan army is being sent to the province.

[@lofibaloch52]

@@saniaamirbaaz8850 🤣🤣🤣 oho

[@mikenogozones]

Thanks for the lesson, I knew very little about this.

[@yayayayya4731]

Yess... Thanks for sharing about this. It's very hard to find good info on such a controversial topic.

[@SuperIzombie]

International community should take notice of the situation in balochistan, especially the humanitarian crisis and people deprived of basic necessities by the state despite being rich of natural resources.

[@hamzaghazi]

Omg ffs it's not like the natural resources have been taken out and used for other things. Those natural resources haven't even been touched yet, pakistans CPEC project was created in the soul goal of Ecnomic prosperity in the region. These insegurency are foreign funded and most balochi's are against it.

[@native5647]

The international community should take notice of the Kasmiri and Sikhs genocide.

[@siddharthkalantri5076]

@@native5647 whoa toa na ho payaga . international court mea bengal can take pakistan generals for doing rape and war crimes with genoside . should india ask bangladesh to file a case on pakistanie generals

[@doctornochu3092]

We have basic needs in most of the province. If you go down south in Balochistan ( dominant baloch regions) people themselves don’t want it. They deem progress as un islamic and because of people like this the country can’t move forward

[@siddharthkalantri5076]

@@doctornochu3092 there was slaverey in islam tommrow if some group want will rest of world allow them to do that . i meant to say we are liveing in 21 centurey every person should have basic nessacity you cannot deney them school ing clean water food ffundmental rights and claim to hold power over land . you need to educate them

[@leaveme3559]

Anything that happens in Pakistan is blamed on India so you can't really take them seriously

[@syedtahaahmed3208]

Atleast we r better than Indian media who even blames locusts on Pakistan.

[@leaveme3559]

@@syedtahaahmed3208 well they are right they originated from the deserts of balochistan or something like that

[@native5647]

Indian media do the same. On top of that, they blame Pakistan for everything that happens in Afghanistan so you really cant them seriously.

[@leaveme3559]

@@native5647 I mean it's true taliban is made trained fed and educated in Pakistan....don't you guys take pride in that fact ?

[@native5647]

@@leaveme3559 wait India has been screaming about Pakistan-trained and equipped Taliban and they control them with the remote control now India media is screaming that Taliban don't recognize Durand line and destroying the fence and attacking Pakistani forces you see the irony.

[@baluch5850]

Thank you sir for the update ❤️

[@paramahansayogananda6719]

Amazing video as usual.

[@jaurakbaloch7330]

Balochistan is not Pakistan, we want freedom, please stand with us

[@AA-mi7nu]

I want sit with you 😂😂😂

[@AliShan-ng2tm]

Balochistan is and will remain pakistan and soon terrorists will be eliminated from there

[@aleksakrivosija8248]

Thank you for such an informative video, James. Nice to see an experiment with the sound blips, even though I'm not much of a fan! Also, a small nitpick: the Balochi language is not "related to Iranian" - I assume that you meant that it was related to Persian, which, like Balochi, Kurdish and Pashto is an Iranian/Iranic language. :)

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. Yes, always trying little bits and pieces. Thanks for the feedback! :-) And you are absolutely right about Iranian. I should have stated it was part of the Iranian family of languages. I’m usually pretty up on those sorts of linguistic points!

[@geronimo8159]

@@JamesKerLindsay actually liked the blips, they may not be essential, but they're somewhat neat, Haha...

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@@geronimo8159 Thank you! :-)

[@skyblue9400]

感谢老铁的报道！thanks!

[@tatradak]

James are your going there for a live update!!! Love the new presentation really professional and easy to understand

[@Value_Pilgrim]

There are a lot of Baloch separatist leaders in UK. These are former nobles of Balochistan who fled to UK as refugees and continue their struggle for emancipation from there. You can try to contact them there. Recently a lady baloch activist was killed in Canada by Pakistan's ISI assassins.

[@ZeeshanKhan-wy3lk]

Nobles....lol....u r a funny person.

[@Value_Pilgrim]

@@ZeeshanKhan-wy3lk whats the english word for Nawab?

[@ZeeshanKhan-wy3lk]

@@Value_Pilgrim chor

[@Value_Pilgrim]

@@ZeeshanKhan-wy3lk Oh! You are talking about the Chors! The Pak Foj which uses swiss accounts, papa johns pizza...etc...! Got it.

[@officialballisticfox8111]

Haha, and 80% of British Pakistanis are from Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Specifically from Mirpur, while accounting for less than 1% of Pakistan's total population. And, they are known for grooming gangs and drug dealing... while the mainland Pakistanis are focused on education.

[@Todd.B]

Thanks Prof. as always you got me thinking as to why? are country maps so badly drawn? Then I look at my own state in which I live, Oregon, western Oregon is the population centers and eastern Oregon is mostly cattle ranchers, farmers ect and no one Gov can address the needs of both the west and eastern parts at the same time, their needs are so different. The tension has been growing for decades and more and more talk of succession for the eastern part of Oregon to join Idaho. Great video

[@zccau2316]

Colonial powers. Ideally North afghanistan and tajikstan would be one, South afghanistan and baloch will be one, and the states of kashmir, punjab and sindh are also one nation. However life is not perfect and us Baloch are happy with Pak. One day when we are all wealthy, then maybe we can go back to our traditional borders but for the time being stronger how it is

[@greatwolf5372]

The federal government of the US keeps state level infighting in check. Imagine if all 50 states were independent countries. Oregon and Idaho might already be at war!

[@yayayayya4731]

@@zccau2316 how did you relate kashmir to Punjab and Sindh ?

[@zccau2316]

@@yayayayya4731 geography

[@yayayayya4731]

@@zccau2316 alright. Not what I expected 😅

[@BusinessTraveller786]

Very detailed content 👍

[@fatemaalbalooshi1980]

Excellent and clear reporting 👍

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much.

[@gauthamdinesan2184]

A big fan of your work👏👏👏

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it!

[@hamzaghazi]

Most balochi are against separation, this insurgency is funded by India's RAW agency.

[@lonleybeer]

Yes but theres also suggestions that iran is behind it as well

[@hamzaghazi]

@@lonleybeer highly doubt it cause Iran and Pakistan relations have been on better terms than better before. The CPEC project is ment to bring allot of development to balochistan and development means prosperity which goes against india's goal in trying to isolate and destabilise Pakistan.

[@gale_poot]

lol whatttt even

[@dankseid3793]

RAW was formed 1968, Baloch freedom movement is older.

[@hamzaghazi]

@@dankseid3793 doesn't matter what came first just search up Kulbhushan Jadhav on Google and you will get the picture.

[@rogerdarthwell5393]

Never heard about this, thank you

[@colinmurphy525]

Ugh, my dads best friend who works for the “company” as a field officer. Denied that this was really a problem. When I directly spoke with him back in 2007 about this topic. Geez, it’s almost like he was gaslighting me or another example of them misreading the facts.

[@pakistanibaloch2955]

i am baloch and i fully support state of pakistan and its institutions, federal govt gives more than 9 percent funds through NFC award ( balochistan share is mere 5 percent), but all of this money goes into the pockets of sardars and nawabs in balochistan assembly.... nawabs and sardars are fully responsible and main culprits behind deprivation of this province..

[@Khyber_1]

Yea i had a son of a sardar in my high school class and he would so proudly talk about diverting funds and smuggling stuff. But the police there is really crap. Only FC and army are only reliable law enforcement agencies there.

[@mujtaba9677]

Yeah extra effort for developments have been made in last dacade

[@lofibaloch52]

Im balochistani baloch Ponzaabi tum bc hmari qomiyat humse nahi cheen sakte

[@laurewanders]

Thank you for sharing, this is so interesting! Balochistan is the only province I didn't visit in Pakistan (you need a permit and a security escort as a foreigner), and this video helped me understand it better.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much, Laura. That must have been an absolutely fascinating trip!

[@hammadali9372]

Great video

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you very much.

[@usmanbaloch6942]

This is a very detailed topic and well researched, however I must add that BLA holds power in rural areas and are followed by smaller tribes. The urban areas and the bigger tribes (including ones in Quetta and Makran) oppose BLA ideals and deem them "too radical", we mean more towards Qazi Muhammad Isa's politics rather than BLA.

[@globalcitizen1856]

But you should still be careful with these NATO salesmen. They never did any good to anybody in the world. Never trust them

[@sociallyinept1323]

I am Pashtun-Baloch , Agreed , Baaz Shukria , Ghat Masalah de Hal Kro , Long Live Pakistan

[@alikhan-iy7uu]

Corrupt politicians, on the army payroll are condemned by their own people, like pathans punjabis, sindhis etc, condemning their corrupt elders/leaders, but no Baluch Never condemn their sardar, no matter how corrupt and no matter how much money they take from islamabad/pindi.

[@globalcitizen1856]

@@alikhan-iy7uu That is because both, the common Balochi & their sardars, have a common enemy!

[@alikhan-iy7uu]

@@globalcitizen1856 so why baloch sardar is selling common baloch to the enemy, and enjoying a luxurious life style at the expense of common baloch?

[@Mankorra_Gomorrah]

The irony of Pakistan blaming Afghanistan for supporting terrorist groups in their country

[@cuteerebos2155]

Tbf, if i remember correctly, Afghanistan started it all. Which is what kinda forced Pakistans Hand.

[@lonleybeer]

Afghanistan is what started it all though

[@Mankorra_Gomorrah]

@R W It’s a good thing your wrong because that would be a lot less funny

[@Mankorra_Gomorrah]

@R W Ah, that explains it. Your Pakistani so i guess it’s slightly less funny for you. But that’s unimportant because no matter how hard you try to delude yourself you are still wrong and this situation is still incredibly ironic. You dare speak about the war on terror? The war that was only a contest because the Pakistani government pumped more money into terror cells than its own military? The war that existed because the Pakistani government gave refuge and aid to terror groups that showed up at their boarders asking for help? Pakistan has been destabilizing the region, and creating more and more radical terror groups since the 80s and now they are finally coming home to roost. What goes around comes around and this is what you get. It’s also laughable that you think the US has any faith or trust in Pakistan, a country that has been teetering on the edge total collapse for almost 2 generations.

[@AliShan-ng2tm]

All terrorists hide in Afghanistan even their own governments said they support them to sponsor terrorism in pakistan

[@operator9858]

so difficult to find information about this theater, and i feel like the locals ive run into have been disingenuous about it making it even further difficult to ascertain, but thanks for this.

[@paracommandosf9727]

Very informative video Professor..

[@deusexaethera]

Heh. If something is messed-up in Central Asia, you can reflexively blame it on The Great Game and 95% of the time you'll be correct.

[@bkbaloch4564]

Thank you 😊💕

[@BalochistanRTV]

Hello Pofs, Jems.. Kindly, is it possible for me to show your videos on my channel with English and Arabic subtiitles as it is with English and Arabic subtiitles without any copy rights problems? Thanks

[@AbdulHannanAbdulMatheen]

👏😐 Wow. I heard there was Balochistan independence movement from a few Pakistani friends but I didn't expect it was so severe. Keep up the great work professor 👍

[@byron-ih2ge]

its huge!! especially since 2020 the pace has multiplied 10 times . well balochistan is a de facto colony of pakistan and is absolutely treated like that so this was bound to happen

[@mujtaba9677]

@@byron-ih2ge what few tribes are problem

[@claymore993]

This movement is not severe, just last flickers of a dying flame. The ethnic Balochs are not even in majority in Balochistan province.

[@AliKhan-uf2rc]

@@claymore993 ohhh really ,We Have 70percent in entire balochistan ,Because of Afghan part Pashtuns are 2nd largest population in Balochistan (in Afghan areas ,like Zhob ,Qilasaifullah,loralai,Chaman etc.).

[@claymore993]

@@AliKhan-uf2rc as per 2017 census 35% of balochistan population speaks balochi and 35% speak pashto. Your leaders are living in palaces in Karachi Dubai. While your so called freedom fighters are living in west on pocket money of foreign intelligence agencies, leaving poor balochs to fight their dirty fights. If you really want your rights, start with civil movement like recently in Gawadar.

[@dariuslankarian3282]

Can you please do an analysis of Iran's Baluchistan (Sistan & Baluchistan) as well. It appears the IRGC has taken over the province and is investing in construction projects. There was big push in mid 2000 to cause alot problems in the province with bombings and shootings which appears to have quiet down significantly.

[@user-db1gm7wo5w]

Tkanks u pro for voice

[@aftabahmad3050]

Very well said

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you.

[@A-KAYA]

A video on Transnistria would be much appreciated!

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. I really want to do one. It is on my very long list of cases to cover.

[@MrDragoo1]

Since Taliban had made govt in Afghanistan it's very hard to to believe Indian govt can operate such operation from Afghanistan...it's very immature to blame India on this point

[@mujtaba9677]

If you dont stop from iran war is comming soon

[@MrDragoo1]

@@mujtaba9677 before you said Afghanistan ..now it's Iran... 😂😂😂 Btw who is bringing war???

[@native5647]

So you agree India was supporting a terrorist group from Afghanistan before Taliban took over ?

[@MrDragoo1]

@@native5647 no..I'm saying that you all have been complaining about India...but why now since India isn't there

[@mujtaba9677]

@@MrDragoo1 oh look at you peace loving indian

[@Max-nt5zs]

Can you make a video about major active independence conflicts?

[@albashir7140]

Brilliant thank you

[@Cryptic_Chai]

Thankyou once again Prof, for covering a much needed topic!

[@ukrainenews8247]

Thank you professor, your videos are really interesting and I have learnt so much about international relations. But what would you recommend a secondary student wanting to study IR do/read?

[@balochkahan5743]

Thank bro

[@abrahimssabrahimss4370]

Thank you sir

[@trulytrulyawesome1051]

#FreeBalochistan #FreeSindh

[@doctornochu3092]

How bout no?

[@FahadFSA]

Modi IT cell bot spotted...

[@zjroman1705]

Free ur mom Free ur dad

[@muzamilbaloch7475]

Free India from China😭😭😭😭

[@syedabdulwahidsohaily493]

Very well researched and amazingly informative, Sir, 🙏🏻👍🏻 thanks Professor, God Bless You Amen. Sohail Karachi.

[@zayeenubch1274]

Thank you sir for your support

[@saniaamirbaaz8850]

He never said that he supports it.

[@brianfoley4328]

Well done. Concise and accurate without being terse or opinionated. Have you considered running for General Secretary of the United Nations ?

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. Haha! I’ve actually got a funny story about that. For another time.

[@igorbrille8222]

I am a big fan of your informative attention to worldwide conflict areas. The central governments everywhere crack down separatist movements. The only,as far as I know,peaceful exception is the secession of Slovakia under the rule of the peaceloving Havel. The Balochis of Iran are not mentioned but are connected to this Secession Movement. There is a big smuggling area into Iran. After the newspaper Dawn the Balochis have 'over the years smuggled hundreds of thousands of Afghanis to the Iran border ' and let us not forget the Opium trade via Balochistan to the west.We talk about a province as big as Germany. Despite being rich in mineral resources the population of about 13 mill. lives in very poor conditions mostly without electricity and clean water.

[@the.real.cia.langley]

Well in many rural areas there is now both Electricity through solar power and even clean water. Things have improved very much over there and the insurgent movements have also decreased. Many Tribal leaders there are supporting Pakistan. I have went there too, in Quetta and other parts of the province. You should visit Pakistan too someday, it's very beautiful and we people are very hospitable.

[@balochsahir7901]

#FreeBalochistan

[@alikhan-iy7uu]

No Baluch(commoner or rebel leader) ever condemns the corruption of their Baluch Sardars who are on the payroll of Islamabad/pindi govt.

[@Shahid-uu4ez]

Knowledgeable

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you!

[@pascualgomez2449]

Hello James there a island self governance call Norfolk Island in Australia that may interest you check out the details there some say they want to be part of New Zealand, other want full independence, and there full Australian sovereignty also it a cool deep history about it.

[@hjorturerlend]

One thing that's notable is that the BLA publishes a lot of extremely graphic combat footage of them attacking Pakistani Frontier Corps outposts and convoys, one of those insurgencies that like to record everything on video. Clearly tactically adept too. Also notable that the Frontier Corps in Balochistan are some of the worst equipped government soldiers I have ever seen, essentially civilians with guns. Usually don't even have have chest/belt rigs to carry ammunition for their firearms, which aren't standardized in the slightest.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. You are very right. The BLA does seem to record a lot of its activities and there is a lot available online. Obviously I couldn’t use that footage. And very good point about the government forces in the area. Thank you again.

[@hjorturerlend]

@@JamesKerLindsay No problem

[@fretted4life]

@@hjorturerlend Keeping in mind that FC is headed by an Army General it kind of surprised me as to how badly equipped they are vis-a-vis the BLA. Driving in unarmoured Toyota pickup trucks is another oddball.

[@hjorturerlend]

@@fretted4life Yeah... I don't know the local prices, but you can get a decent plate carrier setup for $350 these days, there are no excuses for equipping your troops this badly. And yeah, while pickup trucks offer great mobility, it's not something you should drive on routine patrols or supply runs in IED territory. Especially when the terrain doesn't allow for driving them off-road.

[@hammadirfan31]

@@hjorturerlend 350 * 175 = 61.5 K in PKR . So yeah. It is hard to equip them . Also with alot of money going towards border security particularly the Fencing of Afghan-Iran border. It gets even harder.

[@Mohamedmohamed-gs6gq]

I have been following you quite a month as you cover topics related to international relations ' conflicts and succesionist . From somaliland to balochistan now . Can you also shed light to the issue of scotland .they seem not too happy to be part of britain and recently wanted to conduct their own refrendum.

[@AllMoviesAreHereofficial]

Thank you so much brother for bringing up a most neglected and important issue to the world

[@lancecorporal7764]

Honestly as a British Pakistani I believe in letting ppl have independence as long as they are Democratic so everyone gets freedom and it shouldn't be with war, but with peaceful protests

[@Dr-Zoker-naik]

As a Indian I completely agree with you.

[@Robert_austia]

Free balochtistan

[@marulbaluch5763]

Thanks for covering Baluchistan

[@Rahul97161]

Thank you professor.

[@AliKhan-uf2rc]

#FREE_BALOCHISTAN❤💚💙 We want Freedom. آزاد بلوچستان زیندگ بات ❤💚💙۔ اجوبات بلوچستان 💙💚❤

[@nobaso620]

Professor James I love your channel

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much. Always lovely to hear. And always really appreciated. :-)

[@zccau2316]

@@JamesKerLindsay same I love u too but stop being biased against pakistan

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@@zccau2316 Not sure why you would say that this is biased against Pakistan? And I certainly don’t have any particular hostility towards the country - and especially not towards the people. But I do believe in trying to present an objective view of situations. But I like to think that I do this as much towards my own country as any other one.

[@zccau2316]

@@JamesKerLindsay Hmmm well Maybe it’s me being biased. Still love your work tho ❤️❤️❤️

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. We all carry our own big and small biases. I try not to, but that’s not to say there might not be unconscious bias. I’ll certainly try to keep it in mind! :-) Have a great weekend.

[@maxwalker1159]

Interesting

[@Dr-Zoker-naik]

Excellent video sir. I thank you for letting cries of persecuted people of baluchistan be known to the world. These atrocities these people suffer under paxtan army were hidden for last 70 years. And you have done a fabulous work. Please make more video about baluchistan and sind people persecution sir. Thank you. 🙏

[@Asamations]

I think personally, to help try and end the never ending conflict, I'd negotiate with the people who are potentially at risk of joining these groups. Give them some sort of autonomy, this would hopefully improve Pakistan's image in the region as the government is willing to listen to the people in the local area, plus the groups could no longer recruit on stuff like that the Pakistani government doesn't listen to us, for example. I enjoyed your video James! It's great to see your channel get so large!

[@Khyber_1]

Another possible solution can be to start a population control program in punjab province and improve education and life facilities in Balochistan. I'm a pashtun born in Quetta and i can Pretty much say the lack of economic opportunities (which cpec is bringing) and education are main reasons for baloch youth falling in the wrong places like BLA and other Indian payed terrorist groupd.

[@amirlateef1934]

That's so pleasant to see that this is getting a little attention by the foreigners...because media is shush hear.

[@alikhan-iy7uu]

No Baluch(commoner or rebel leader) ever condemns the corruption of their Baluch Sardars who are on the payroll of Islamabad/pindi govt.

[@RandomVidsforthought]

What are you thoughts if someone made a ytp on one of your videos

[@iainplumtree1239]

In the late '80's as Russia still in Afghanistan it was was risky enough being on the border area north of Balochistan but even with a chance to see MSF in Quetta all advice was to stay away. Given Pakistan has continued to struggle with the border tribal areas since independence I wonder how they will cope if the BLA are increasingly aggressive. Not sure I would like to see chinese tactics employed.

[@yayayayya4731]

Balochistan is kinda like Kashmir, and to me it's hypocritical that Pakistan supports independence movement in Kshmr but doesn't want to compromise in Balochistan.

[@muhammadumair-si9qp]

It happens everywhere.its hypocritical that india supports Balochistan and there is khalistan movement in india. it's hypocritical that china in has uighur muslims and Pakistan supports china.It's hypocritical that USA has native indians and they still can ''conquer'' native indian lands particularly ones having religious significance to indians with ease and impunity.

[@yayayayya4731]

@@muhammadumair-si9qp true lmao. Kind sad though in a way

[@gale_poot]

It's very hypocritical. Similar to how it does not call out China for the Uighur situation in case it hurts it's economic relations with China

[@yayayayya4731]

@@gale_poot yep very much

[@fronabulax63]

encouraged by the US, to counter chinas belt and road Initiative...

[@Western_Decline]

CIA is definitely funding Balochistan Liberation Army. Advanced weapons don't come outta nowhere.

[@zakyt2601]

From port city Gwadar , BALOCHISTAN LOVE UR CONTENT ♥️

[@Arihant997]

Please also mention Gwadar port which was acquired for a song from Sultanate of Oman and to the disadvantage of locals... Gwadar Port is used as camp where only Chinese and 🇵🇰 allowed and locals barred..

[@mirandapillsbury7885]

I believe it should still remain within Pakistan as the vast majority of the people wish to remain within Pakistan. 1/3 vs 2/3 clearly indicates a vast majority wish to stay. India has been arming the liberation army for a while to create as much instability for Pakistan. Pakistan is already unstable and poor. Addiing this only halts the potential growth it has been gaining slowly thanks to Chinese development projects. This is clearly some sabotage. With that said, I wish Pakistan understood the importance of properly developing the region and providing meaningful jobs for the locals otherwise we might see 50% or more of the people start supporting indipendence.

[@zerdhanbaloch6529]

@MI Pakistani forces bombing and killing civilians in Balochistan . 99% of Baloch want freedom from Pakistan . Baloch never accept Pakistan as there country . Every single Baloch are supporting Baloch Freedom Fighters .

[@paracommandosf9727]

Really, u think these polls are unbiased ,Pak is run by a puppet govt. of Pak Army GHQ

[@gale_poot]

@@zerdhanbaloch6529 exactly. The people from other provinces don't want to see the truth

[@native5647]

@@zerdhanbaloch6529 Lolz do you even notice that Baloch has become a minority in Balochistan Balochistan has more pustuns than baloch now so go ahead remove Pustns first then talk about freedom.

[@globalcitizen1856]

It is not really about Pak or Balochis. It is about UK's interests in the region. They will make Balochistan & Pak a graveyard if they have to - all for their military economy & war with China. Seems like the Punjabi army has not woken up yet

[@leoflorida95]

The entire world feels like a powder keg at this point

[@JamesKerLindsay]

It does indeed! Very worrying times.

[@asadbaloch7576]

Thinking sir This video #FreeBalochistan

[@vinaybati4606]

Baloch for 10000 years, Islam for 1400 years, pakistan for 72 years, which one should be priority? Identity of Baloch is high priority, The pakistan map shown in this channel is unacceptable

[@Avicerox]

Cope

[@masoodjalal1152]

Indus valley civilization for 4000 years india for 72 years. Which shou be priority?

[@vinaybati4606]

@@masoodjalal1152 सनातन, forever

[@shouhazbaloch290]

Thanks alot of you Prof James Ker-Lindsay very good explanation about occupied Balochistan

[@doctornochu3092]

Ye bat batao ke ye occupied kaese hai?

[@AliShan-ng2tm]

Whole Afghanistan is under pakistans control and fed by pakistan

[@hamedtaheri607]

@R W It doesn't matter if He is from Northern or Eastern Balochistan, We all are Baloch and only we can decide for Balochistan's destiny. Btw you should know this British made borders mean nothing for us.

[@lofibaloch52]

@@doctornochu3092 jese tumlogo ne kashmir par kabza kiya pokistani wesey hamre molk balochistan par kabiz huwey

[@MotoTvWoodsFarm]

interesting

[@indusreaction8664]

Prof make video on iiojk( kashmir)

[@anirudhparthasarathy3387]

Thanks for sharing the less spoken about insurgency movement ongoing. But now with increasing Chinese interests in Gwadar, hopefully the situation does not escalate (on that note, I find the history of Gwadar as part of Oman to be very interesting). As mentioned in some comments, the tribal organisation of the communities in Afghanistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan is complex to manage for any government in place. I did not know of the resource richness of the area, would like to find out if it is less used or that it was used at the cost of developing Punjab or Sindh. And talking of the diaspora community in Europe, one of my good friends is from the region - but identifies themselves more with their community than Pakistan. I have no information on the region except media reports (in France or elsewhere, do not particularly trust the reports on the region coming etiher from Pakistan or India) and whatever exchanges I have had with people from the region. Keep up the good work, have a good weekend. PS: I believe I have been respectful in my comment, please read it and tell me what is inappropriate rather than ad hominem attacks because of my name.

[@globalcitizen1856]

The whole reason why these videos are being posted now is to escalate the issue. In order to gain access to Afghanistan and run their military economy, the next logical step for NATO forces would be to wage a war in that region. So, all they are doing now is light the fire, blow it, and then pretend to be good Samaritans for the Baloch

[@sociallyinept1323]

As a Pashtun-Baloch. Tribal Norms have created such tension for Government , FATA was not part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so it was not well administered , Which created a pashtun uprising , The Baloch uprising and revolts are Purely because of Lack of education and hatred and vanity of baloch for the government , the uprising is rejected by Major Tribes of sibbi , Quetta , Waziristan , Peshawar , Makran they reject such baloch people to be even called baloch , These People are very less in numbers and their sepratist movement is not being stopped in the name of freedom of speech under amendment of freedom added to Pakistan's Constitution , The sole Purpose is for this region to remain unstable. they only do such stunts in the name of Uprising of all the people and sects and ethnic groups of Pakistan because they're getting the attention they need from International Community. These People will come to their original element if they came to the brink of Tribal warfare with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , They just destroy statues , carry attacks on forces and create tension for people in the name of freedom

[@cringeasf8618]

These people only want instability in that Region People of KPK are actually more patriotic than people of Punjab When Afghanistan attacked Pakistan in 1960 to take Pashtun majority areas from Pakistan , those pashtuns in FATA held Afghan troops for more than 20 hours These Pashtuns living in FATA region received least development in their region and those drone attacks during the war on terror caused many of them to rise up against Pakistan Army .

[@addyred1861]

@@cringeasf8618 happy to know how the Pakistany state pays back for loyal service

[@fourthwall2533]

@@globalcitizen1856 The U.S. would never interfere in the region so soon after embarrassing itself in Afghanistan.

[@notorious25796]

I am baloch living in Balochistan, If you compare the situation of balochistan with 15 years back... you will find this balochistan much better.... Now the terrorism is almost eliminated... we are sending our kids in schools etc.... this is all because of the Pak Army and FC balochistan....

[@feraidonbahramzahi4307]

veri god best video

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you very much.

[@SuperIzombie]

No wonder why most people dont know about Balochistan, its the force disappearances and mutilated bodies and mass graves which ensure all the potential voices for the indigenous people to be silenced forever.

[@masoodjalal1152]

Most of the disappearances turn out to be people who leave to join separatist groups. Although western media pins the blame on Pakistan. Many of the people on the missing persons list were found dead in Syria. A few of the missing persons attack a hotel in Gwadar and a few were killed in FATA when they tried to ambush KP FC( frontier corps unit in the KP province, better equiped that Balochistan FC). Not saying Government doesn't do it, but most of them are just people who left on their own. There is also very few evidence to put the blame on the government. Another thing to Note is Pakistan is a federation and every province is semi independent, they have their own police, so it is kinda their oen fault that they can't form a proper government. So far not a single party has won and it is always a coalition of 3 or 4 parties who fight all the time instead of governing. KP was warzone and people still hesitate to go there, but they did great, now they compete against Punjab at the top and beat them at most. while Balochistan is still at the bottom of the list. KP government has introduced universal health care and improved the education system. The infrastructure has improved. Balochistan is the same, thess groups are attacking CPEC and killing labourers who come to earn a living. tbh, Balochs are their own enemies.

[@Abhinav4721]

Balochistan should get its independence love from Bharat♥️ 🇮🇳

[@AliShan-ng2tm]

😂😂 So also khalistan nangaland Manipur arunchal pradesh bihar should get independence

[@whysoserious7553]

@@AliShan-ng2tm Pakistan should get independence from Allah

[@hanipolpolehani670]

Free Free Balochistan Long Live Baloch Freedom Fighters

[@christopherwalker-lyne9282]

Interesting & detailed account of regional tensions in a part of Pakistan not well known in the West. I would point out, however, that while Professor Ker-Lindsay is right to say that there is a language called ‘Baluchi’, spoken in Baluchistan and also in the neighbouring Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchistan, and it’s also true to say that this language is part of the Indo-Iranian group of the Indo-European language family, there is no such language as ‘Iranian’. The language referred to by Professor Ker-Lindsay, as related to Baluchi, is presumably Farsi; known to English speakers as Persian.

[@chamkaur1160]

Same thing when people ask how to speak Indian, or we think Chinese is a language.

[@taoriq3632]

Pakistan has always been a troubled country because it more focused extreme muslim rather try to be secular. I have a question for you do you think the yoruba nation(oduduwa nation) is possible because I read online on the U.N. under represented countries or movement about the yoruba ethnic group also trying to break away from nigeria. But great video as usual.

[@zccau2316]

Pakistanis are Sufi Matuidis not Salafis lmao. The only extremism comes from the salafi/wahhabi importants from Saudi. The main issue is poverty and corruption, not religion

[@zccau2316]

@Saracen-Gamer Not really. Rather have secularism that respects religion then say extreme secularism or French secularism. Issue is We haven’t developed an effective Islamic way of government as of yet. We are getting there though as more Muslims are studying both in the western academy and in our tradition

[@zccau2316]

@Saracen-Gamer secularism in U.K. and America respects religion. There are different types of secularism: Anglo Saxon vs French. I agree both are bad but one if undoubtedly worse. Issue is we have not come up with a viable Islamic polo cap framework. Until that is developed best thing is secularism for stability

[@leaveme3559]

@@zccau2316 west is developed because it's secular you won't ever come up with any Islamic version of it because it's not possible

[@yayayayya4731]

@@leaveme3559 uae, Qatar, Bahrain...