Baloch Women Spearheading the Revolution

Writer: Ambreen Baloch

The history of Balochistan has never been easy, it has been crammed with struggles and strife, blood and sweat, and tears of its women and children. In any given society, the sacrifices of a woman often go unnoticed, they become a part of a conventional notion and with utmost ease take their seat in the compartment of ‘duties’ and ‘responsibilities.’ Women’s narratives offer a unique lens through which the cultural, religious, and socio-political fabric of a region can be understood. In Balochistan, women narrate as witnesses of resistance, resilience, and everyday struggle, which are included in the historical and contemporary struggles of the region, presenting a clear picture of the challenges faced by the Baloch people.

Balochistan is one of the most underdeveloped regions, wherein the locals are deprived of basic amenities of education and healthcare. Clean drinking water is still a far-fetched dream for many. Ironically, this has been happening in a land which is abundant with umpteen resources and rich minerals. The resentment towards the state is not a day’s battle but a prolonged struggle. Extra-judicial killing, forced disappearances, fake encounters and military operations are what the locals are In recent years, hundreds of young Baloch men — especially Baloch separatist activists — have “disappeared.”

For several years, Balochistan has been bearing the brunt of Pakistan’s atrocious regime. The restive Balochistan region is no stranger to protests, sit-ins, and large-scale demonstrations, but what makes the recent long march unique is the large number of young women who participated and led the demonstrations to Islamabad. This development is unprecedented in a region that has otherwise been conservative and tribal.

The collective anger from Makran to Dera Ghazi Khan among ethnic Balochs represents frustration, mistrust, and resentment against the Pakistani state’s security-centric policies. For two decades, the central government has primarily used force to address the unrest in Balochistan. Pakistan has always viewed Balochistan as a threat to national security.

But what’s strikingly different in the Baloch revolt is the active participation of fearless women whose unflinching courage and determination give back the state a taste of their medicine. Women have been at the forefront of the revolution. Mothers, sisters and daughters are left waiting for their men to return. Families keep living their lives in constant threat and longing for their loved ones. Unable to cater to the needs of the Baloch, the state has only suppressed the dissent and curbed the uprising.
Karima Baloch, a vocal Baloch Human Rights activist and a staunch critic of the establishment was found dead in Canada. She was suspected to be killed by Pakistan’s ISI in mysterious circumstances on Canadian soil in 2020 and yet no substantial actions or investigation was initiated about her killing.

Sammi Deen Baloch recalls growing up happily in remote parts of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan Province. But her world crumbled in 2009 when she was just 10 years old.

That’s when her father, Deen Muhammad Baloch — a doctor working in state health clinics providing care to the region’s neediest people — was taken away by “intelligence agencies” because of his activism.

In the recent long march to Islamabad, Dr. Maharang Baloch has come up as a beacon of hope and audacity. Leading the protest rallies and guiding thousands of women, Maharang has faced oppression with utmost heroism and valour. She was fearless in the face of violence and her name has been etched in the Baloch history forever. The role of Imaan Zainab Mazari cannot be subdued. Not only legal aid, but she has always stood with the victims in the light of the bogus claims and provided her consistent support. She has been an advocate of righteousness and firmly fought for the integrity of the Baloch.

Things have been changing recently, as increasing numbers of women are taking up active and leading roles in the Baloch nationalist movement and speaking assiduously against state brutality.

On this International Women’s Day, we offer our full admiration to the Baloch women and women all over the world who continually inspire us with their resilience and courage. They consistently demonstrate their strength and determination, serving as a true inspiration.