Balochistan: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Agriculture in this region is based on horticulture supported mostly by rain water. Cultivation is often located on alluvial fans, along river-courses, and in fertile areas which are maintained through artificial irrigation systems such as [[qanat]]s (holes sunk in the ground to trap water) and ''gabarbands'' (low stone and earth mounds creating raised beds which become saturated by rainfall and water run-off from the surrounding hills). In the southern Makran and oasis region (south of the [[Chagai Hills]]) date palms are cultivated. Orange orchards are also typical in southern Balochistan, particularly in [[Jhalawan]] and [[Sarawan]].

The [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Pakistani portion of Balochistan]] is the largest and its capital is the city of [[Quetta]]. Other major cities in [[Balochistan, Pakistan]], include [[Gwadar]], [[Turbat]], [[Khuzdar]], [[Sibi]] and [[Kalat (princely state)|Kalat]].▼

==Demography==

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==Governance and political disputes==

{{Further|Balochistan conflict}}

▲The Balochistan region is administratively divided among three countries, [[Pakistan]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iran]]. The [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Pakistani portion of Balochistan]] is the largest and its capital is the city of [[Quetta]]. Other major cities in [[Balochistan, Pakistan]], include [[Gwadar]], [[Turbat]], [[Khuzdar]], [[Sibi]] and [[Kalat (princely state)|Kalat]]. Although [[Baloch nationalist]]s have never accepted Balochistan as a part of Iran, the governments of Pakistan and Iran insist on sovereignty over their parts of Balochistan.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

The Balochistan region is administratively divided among three countries, [[Pakistan]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iran]]. The largest portion in area and population is in Pakistan, whose largest province (in land area) is "[[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]]". An estimated 6.9 million of Pakistan's population is Baloch.<ref name=EthnicGroups>{{cite web|last=Central Intelligence Agency|title=The World Factbook: Ethnic Groups|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2075.html|accessdate=3 November 2014|date=2013}}</ref> In Iran there are about two million ethnic Baloch<ref name=Grassi-20-10-2014/> and a majority of the population of the eastern [[Sistan and Baluchestan Province]] is of Baloch ethnicity. The Afghan portion of Balochistan includes the [[Chahar Burjak District]] of [[Nimruz Province]],<ref name="Nimroz">{{cite web|title=Nimroz Province|url=http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Nimroz.html|publisher=[[Naval Postgraduate School]]|accessdate=2013-01-03}}</ref> and the [[Registan Desert]] in southern [[Helmand Province|Helmand]] and [[Kandahar Province|Kandahar]] provinces.<ref>{{cite web|title=Helmand Province|url=http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Helmand.html|publisher=Naval Postgraduate School|accessdate=2013-01-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kandahar Province|url=http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Kandahar.html|publisher=Naval Postgraduate School|accessdate=2013-01-03}}</ref> The governors of Nimruz provinces in Afghanistan belong to the Baloch ethnic group.<ref name="Nimroz"/>▼

▲The Balochistan region is administratively divided among three countries, [[Pakistan]],United [[AfghanistanKingdom|British]] andmade [[Iran]].northern The largest portion in area and population is in Pakistan, whose largest province (in land area) is "[[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]]". An estimated 6.9 millionpart of Pakistan'sAfghanistan populationin isorder Baloch.<refto name=EthnicGroups>{{citedivide web|last=Central Intelligence Agency|title=The World Factbook: Ethnic Groups|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2075.html|accessdate=3 November 2014|date=2013}}</ref> In Iran there are about two million ethnic Baloch<ref name=Grassi-20-10-2014/> and a majoritystrength of the population of the eastern [[Sistan and Baluchestan Province]] is of Baloch ethnicitynation. The Afghan portion of Balochistan includes the [[Chahar Burjak District]] of [[Nimruz Province]],<ref name="Nimroz">{{cite web|title=Nimroz Province|url=http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Nimroz.html|publisher=[[Naval Postgraduate School]]|accessdate=2013-01-03}}</ref> and the [[Registan Desert]] in southern [[Helmand Province|Helmand]] and [[Kandahar Province|Kandahar]] provinces.<ref>{{cite web|title=Helmand Province|url=http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Helmand.html|publisher=Naval Postgraduate School|accessdate=2013-01-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kandahar Province|url=http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Kandahar.html|publisher=Naval Postgraduate School|accessdate=2013-01-03}}</ref> The governors of Nimruz provinces in Afghanistan belong to the Baloch ethnic group.<ref name="Nimroz"/>

In Pakistan, insurgencies by Baloch nationalists in Balochistan province have been fought in 1948, 1958–59, 1962–63 and 1973-77 — with a new ongoing and reportedly stronger, broader insurgency beginning in 2003.<ref name=Hussain-4-25-13>{{cite news|last1=Hussain|first1=Zahid|title=The battle for Balochistan|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/794058/the-battle-for-balochistan|accessdate=22 June 2015|agency=Dawn|date=Apr 25, 2013}}</ref> Historically, "drivers" of the conflict are reported to include "tribal divisions", the Baloch-Pashtun ethnic divisions, "marginalization by Punjabi interests", and

"economic oppression".<ref name=kupecz-106>{{cite journal|last1=Kupecz|first1=Mickey|title=PAKISTAN’S BALOCH INSURGENCY: History, Conflict Drivers, and Regional Implications|journal=INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW |date=Spring 2012|volume=20|issue=3|pages=106|url=http://www.iar-gwu.org/sites/default/files/articlepdfs/Pakistan%27s%20Baloch%20Insurgency.pdf|accessdate=24 June 2015}}</ref>

In Iran, separatist fighting has reportedly not gained as much ground as the conflict in Pakistan,<ref>Bhargava, G. S. “How Serious Is the Baluch Insurgency?,” Asian Tribune (Apr. 12, 2007) available at http://www.asiantribune.com/node/5285 (accessed Dec. 2, 2011)</ref> but has grown and become more sectarian since 2012,<ref name=Grassi-20-10-2014/> with the majority-Sunni Baloch showing a greater degree of Salafist and anti-Shia ideology in their fight against the Shia-Islamist Iranian government.<ref name=Grassi-20-10-2014>{{cite news|last1=Grassi|first1=Daniele|title=Iran's Baloch insurgency and the IS|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-02-201014.html|accessdate=26 June 2015|agency=Asia Times Online|date=20 October 2014}}</ref>

===Secessionist movements===