General information
Part of Conflict: Pakistan: Balochistan
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1973-04-30
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: The exact date of the first stated incompatibility is unclear. By late April 1973, however, several of the tribal leaders that would become driving forces in the Baloch insurgency had stated their grievances against the government of Pakistan following the dismissal of the provincial Balochistan government. Note, however, that several of the tribal leaders were also opposed to the provincial government and had stated their grievances at a far earlier stage.
Date of first use of armed force: 1973-05-18
Comment on date of first use of armed force: The first solid evidence of the first use of armed force and the first battle-related death points to these incidents having taken place on 18 May 1973. On that date eight members of a Pakistani army patrol were ambushed and killed in the Balochistan province by armed members of either the Mengal or Marri tribes.
First Battle Related Death: 1973-05-18
Comment on First Battle Related Death: The first solid evidence of the first use of armed force and the first battle-related death points to these incidents having taken place on 18 May 1973. On that date eight members of a Pakistani army patrol were ambushed and killed in the Balochistan province by armed members of either the Mengal or Marri tribes.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1974-12-31
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: The date when the conflict surpassed 25 battle-related deaths is unclear. This threshold was, however, exceeded some time during 1974.
Conflict issues
Conflict Goal Issues: The [Baloch Liberation Front (BLF)] (/#/actor/1166) was an ethno-nationalist group based in Pakistan’s province of Balochistan. Unlike many groups its inception dates back to 1973 although the first recorded conflict goal only came in 2012. Ethnically, The Baloch liberation front was mostly composed of Baloch and opposed cohabitation with Punjabis. Throughout its active years, the group made a number of demands relating to independence, political, and cultural rights. While the BLF opposed the 2013 elections, it did nonetheless express a desire to build a democratic state. Although specific demands were manifold, two main themes are easily distinguished. Undoubtedly, the independence of Baluchistan was the group’s primary goal. In addition, the group’s leader, Allah Nazar Baloch, made several comments emphasizing the distinct culture of the Baloch and their need for increased political rights.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: Between 2012 and 2015, BLF also made a number of demands regarding conflict dynamics. No significant trend or changes could be distinguished over time. Demands related to abuses by the Pakistani military forces, the need for more support from the international community. BLF also criticized the support granted to Pakistan by foreign patrons. In particular, it criticized China for its military and economic support to the government. However, none of the conflict dynamics issues appeared to take precedence over the others.
Conflict Resolution Issues: The project has not been able to find any statements from this group concerning conflict resolution issues.
Type of conflict issues: *Conflict Goal Issues: *
Basic needs, CPS: Democracy, Cultural rights, Independence, Language rights, Opposition to elections, Revenues from natural resources
*Conflict Dynamics Issues: * Atrocities and abuses, Collective targeting: ethnic, DFI: Withdrawal of financial support, DFI: Withdrawal of military intervention/foreign forces, DFI: Withdrawal of military support, IFI: Humanitarian aid, IFI: Use of foreign influence
*Conflict Resolution Issues: *
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1975
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Pakistan): n/a
Side B (BLF): n/a
1976
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Pakistan): n/a
Side B (BLF): n/a
1977
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 26 |
| Best | 26 |
| Low | 1 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Pakistan): n/a
Side B (BLF): n/a
2012
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 35 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 25 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Pakistan): n/a
Side B (BLF): n/a
2013
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 12 |
| Best | 12 |
| Low | 12 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Pakistan): n/a
Side B (BLF): n/a
2014
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 11 |
| Best | 11 |
| Low | 11 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Pakistan): n/a
Side B (BLF): n/a
2015
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 44 |
| Best | 44 |
| Low | 44 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Pakistan): n/a
Side B (BLF): n/a
2017
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1 |
| Best | 1 |
| Low | 1 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Pakistan): n/a
Side B (BLF): n/a
2018
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 12 |
| Best | 12 |
| Low | 12 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Pakistan): n/a
Side B (BLF): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1975 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: No negotiations were held in 1975 between the government of Pakistan and the Baloch separatist groups.
An attempt at negotiations was madewhen President Bhutto had convened a meeting in late December 1973, in which he held talks with some of the formerly high-ranking officials of Balochistan’s dismissed government (who were thought to have a hand in the rising insurgency). These negotiations, however, soon broke down as Bhutto would not accept their demands of withdrawing troops from Balochistan and releasing political prisoners. Bhutto also, according to himself, attempted to bring the rebels to the negotiating table again in late 1974; something which did not materialize.
The government attempted to extend several offers of amnesty to the rebels throughout 1975, but to little effect.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1976 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: No negotiations were held in 1976 between the government of Pakistan and the Baloch separatist groups.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1977 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: President Bhutto was overthrown by military leader Zia ul-Haq on 5 July 1977. ul-Haq subsequently visited the jail in which Balochi separatist leader Ataullah Mengal was held to discuss the conflict. Within a week a ceasefire was agreed upon, together with a deal to release the captured leaders and provide an amnesty for the insurgencys fighters. The parties also agreed to a withdrawal of army forces from the interior of Balochistan.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Ceasefire
Date of termination: 1977-07-12
Comment on Termination: President Bhutto was overthrown by military leader Zia ul-Haq on 5 July 1977. ul-Haq subsequently visited the jail in which Balochi separatist leader Ataullah Mengal was held to discuss the conflict. Within a week a ceasefire was agreed upon, together with a deal to release the captured leaders and provide an amnesty for the insurgency\'s fighters. The parties also agreed to a withdrawal of army forces from the interior of Balochistan.
2012 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: The conflict between BLF and the government forces went active after a 34-year break from fighting. Notorious for not taking any credit for their actions, BLF militants were only confirmed in several attacks against security forces in 2012. But the magnitude of the attacks was enough to reach the minimum number of battle-related deaths to mark the conflict as minor. The attacks were scarce in number, and happened after long breaks of infighting.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 2012-12-31
2013 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2014 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2015 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The majority of the battle-related deaths were BLF militants.
Comment on Active: The Frontier Corps continued to target Baloch militants during 2015. Frontier Corps and BLF militants clashed in February resulting in the death of one soldier and 15 militants.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 2015-12-31
2017 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
2018 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
