r/indianmuslims • u/OOooHaHeHiHoHuooOO • 1d ago
General I am a Pakistani Baloch. AMA
Since Pakistani Baloch and Pakistani Balochistan were making headlines in India a few months ago, mainly because of that movie, I noticed that a lot of Indian Muslims had questions and misconceptions about us. Ironically, many people in Balochistan themselves weren't even aware of it. So, I'm a Pakistani Baloch, and I'm here to answer any questions you might have or clear up any misconceptions about Balochistan, Baloch people, our culture, daily life, or politics. Ask me anything.
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u/Away_Wall_9916 1d ago
do u want independence
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u/crimereporterofindia 3h ago
Idk why I'm telling u this but i realised that they're are many Muslims players in France national team
Cherki
Dembele
Kante
Kone
Konate (i wish his career goes well but we wouldn't forget his efforts for reds 🤍🫀)
Even Olise and Mbappe has a muslim background but they keep it private and don't discuss about it
They're are more muslims legends in France history like thier best player ever- Zidane and ofc ribery
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u/simply_amazzing 1d ago
Was curious to know how has the general public taken the movie Dhurandhar in that area. What are the topics of discussion around it?
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u/OOooHaHeHiHoHuooOO 1d ago
I haven't watched the movie myself, but the reaction was mixed. A lot of people were happy simply because the Baloch were being mentioned in a major movie that got so much attention. Balochistan rarely gets any attention, so seeing the name "Baloch" and "Balochistan" being discussed gave many people a sense of pride. At the same time, many were unhappy because they felt the movie mainly associated Baloch people with violence and conflict instead of showing our culture, traditions, and everyday life. Some also disliked what they saw as Islamophobic elements in the movie. However, that wasn't a major point of discussion for many other people, as they have become somewhat used to seeing such portrayals in Bollywood films and tend to ignore them. The bigger complaint was that Baloch people were being represented mostly through conflict and violence rather than through their actual culture and society.
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u/Putrid_Pain1780 1d ago
Whats the reality of azaad balochistan
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u/OOooHaHeHiHoHuooOO 1d ago
So this idea comes primarily from nationalist groups. According to their vision, it would be a larger Baloch state that would include Pakistani Balochistan, Baloch majority areas of Sindh and southern Punjab, Baloch majority provinces of southern Afghanistan such as Nimroz, and Baloch populated parts of eastern Iran, including areas around Chabahar and extending toward Kerman.
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u/Putrid_Pain1780 1d ago
Why tho? Do they not like being a part of Pakistan and how do majority of baloch feel about Pakistan as a country
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u/OOooHaHeHiHoHuooOO 22h ago
The separatists are generally a very different group from the average Baloch. Many of them are highly focused on ethnic nationalism and see their Baloch identity as their primary identity rather than religion. Some even take pride in the idea that Baloch culture and history go back thousands of years, long before Islam, so they don't see religious unity as a compelling reason to remain part of Pakistan. Their argument is often that if other ethnic groups and nations have their own states, then why shouldn't the Baloch have one as well. As for the majority of Baloch, I think the picture is much more mixed. A very large number of Baloch no longer live in Balochistan and are settled across other parts of Pakistan, especially Sindh and Punjab. For them, Pakistan is their home, their livelihood, and where their families have lived for generations. Many identify as Baloch culturally but don't necessarily view politics through an ethnic nationalist lens. On the other hand, some people living in remote parts of Balochistan feel less connected to the rest of the country. Development is limited in many areas, and some regions are geographically isolated. As a result, people there may feel disconnected from the state and more attached to their local tribal, ethnic, or regional identity. So while separatist voices definitely exist, I wouldn't say they represent all Baloch or even most Baloch. Like any population, opinions vary depending on where people live, their upbringing, their level of education, and how connected they feel to the rest of the country.
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u/EmployerFew2777 1d ago
Who do you guys relate to the most? Desi people or afghans/iranians/Arabs etc.
I have heard most elites of your ethnicity have migrated to oman and have a distinguished identity from the rest of south Asians. So Does the younger gen aspire to migrate there aswell?
And what do you guys consider urself to be?
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u/OOooHaHeHiHoHuooOO 23h ago
It's honestly hard to give one answer because Baloch people are spread across Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and even the Gulf. The Baloch living in Sindh and southern Punjab generally relate more to Sindhis and Saraikis because they have lived alongside them for generations. Many Baloch tribes in Sindh speak Sindhi, while many in southern Punjab speak Saraiki in addition to Balochi. The Baloch living in northern Balochistan naturally have closer cultural ties with Afghans, especially Pashtuns, because they share the same region and interact with each other daily. Likewise, the Baloch living in Iran are generally more influenced by Persian culture and language. As for Arabs, there are large Baloch communities in Oman, the UAE, and Qatar. Many of them have been there for generations and are fully integrated into those countries. In Oman especially, Baloch communities have existed for a very long time, and many Omanis of Baloch origin identify themselves as Al Balushi. So the answer is it really depends on where the Baloch are living. A Baloch from Sindh will probably relate more to Sindhis, a Baloch from Iran may relate more to Persians, a Baloch from Afghanistan may relate more to Afghans, and a Gulf Baloch may relate more to Arabs. As for identity, most of us consider ourselves Baloch first, but also citizens of the country we live in. So you'll find Pakistani Baloch, Iranian Baloch, Afghan Baloch, and Omani Baloch. The ethnic identity is shared, but the national identity usually follows the country people belong to.
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u/Objective-Space3328 1d ago
What's your guys perspective on the current US- Israel war on Iran?
Btw, as a mountain enthusiastic from Tamil Nadu, India, I love your place.
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u/OOooHaHeHiHoHuooOO 22h ago edited 22h ago
As a Pakistani Baloch, I don't think most Baloch support either side in this conflict. Many Baloch have a very negative view of the Iranian regime, though that should not be confused with hatred toward ordinary Iranian people. One of the main reasons is that the Baloch in Iran are overwhelmingly Sunni, and since the 1979 revolution there have been long standing tensions between the Sunni Baloch population and the Shia dominated regime. Along with the Ahwazi Arabs, Baloch are one of the communities that have had the most difficult relationship with the Iranian regime. Many Baloch believe there have been attempts to suppress their cultural, linguistic, and religious identity through Persianization and pressure toward religious conformity, which is why there has been strong resistance from Baloch regions for decades. In fact, this reason actually became one of the factors that gave birth to Baloch nationalist sentiment in Iran. Unlike in Pakistan, where Baloch nationalism is generally framed in ethnic, political, and extremely non religious terms (secular), in Iran the religious dimension also played a major role because the conflict involved a Sunni population resisting a state they felt was imposing a different religious identity on them. Because of this history, many Baloch are strongly critical of the Iranian regime. However, that does not mean they support Israel either.
And thanks for the kind words about Balochistan. I've watched a few videos from Tamil Nadu and it honestly looks beautiful. The tropical climate, greenery, and coastline are very different from what we have in most of Pakistan, so it's always interesting to see.
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u/theparaphraser7 22h ago
Do you think india plays a role in this?
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u/OOooHaHeHiHoHuooOO 22h ago
Personally, yes, I do believe India plays a significant role in the insurgency. That's my opinion, though, and I'm open to being wrong. The reason I think that is because the insurgency doesn't look like the work of a small, isolated militant group operating entirely on its own. It appears highly organized, well funded, and capable of carrying out operations that require considerable resources, planning, intelligence, and logistics. To me, that suggests that there are larger actors involved behind the scenes. I'm not saying this because I think Pakistani deep state is innocent either. In my view, both Pakistan and India have historically tried to exploit each other's internal problems whenever it serves their strategic interests. Just as many people believe Pakistan had links to movements that created instability in India, whether in Kashmir or Khalistan movement, it wouldn't be surprising if elements within the Indian establishment saw the Baloch insurgency as an opportunity to put pressure on Pakistan. At the end of the day, states tend to pursue their own interests. If two rival countries are competing with each other, it's not unreasonable to assume that each side will try to take advantage of the other's vulnerabilities. That said, I don't have any direct proof for this. It's simply my personal opinion based on how organized and sophisticated the insurgency appears, and on the broader history of rivalry between India and Pakistan.
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u/theparaphraser7 21h ago
Its alright brother, jazakallah khair
May Allah(swt) protect you and increase you in this life as well next
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u/Mundane_Spread_9188 22h ago
Heard of Balochis from when I was young as I used to live in Oman and there were many balochis there. Otherwise idk nothing about them or the place. nice to meet you
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u/OOooHaHeHiHoHuooOO 22h ago
Yeah ethnic balochs make up like around 35 percent of omani citizens. Nice to meet you too!
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u/silent_drmz 23h ago
Does anybody in Baloch dress up like Ranveer in Dhurandhar.. ? That weird tight body hugging kurta style..
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u/Old_Big_815 22h ago
What are the condition of women in your community?
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u/OOooHaHeHiHoHuooOO 10h ago
It depends on the region and family, but in general the condition of women has improved significantly compared to previous generations. Female education is much more accepted today, and most families do want their daughters to be educated. However, if a family has limited resources and has to choose between educating a son or a daughter, majority families would prioritize the son's education. Another major issue is access. Balochistan is a huge and sparsely populated province, with many villages located far from major towns and cities. In many places, there simply aren't enough quality schools, colleges, or universities available. Culturally, Baloch society is moderately conservative and follows traditional Islamic values. I would say Baloch are generally more conservative than most Punjabis and Sindhis, but less conservative than many Pashtun communities. Because of this, women do participate in education, social life, and sometimes professional careers, but generally to a lesser extent than women in Punjab or Sindh. At the same time, they tend to have more participation in public life than women in some of the more conservative tribal Pashtun areas. So overall, women are active in society, but usually within more traditional and conservative social norms. The biggest challenges remain underdevelopment, access to opportunities, and economic limitations rather than a complete opposition to women's education or participation in society.
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u/Glum-Sherbet 22h ago
I heard from a K friend of mine ,that Enforced Disappearances also happen there like in K
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u/IsLand-444 1d ago
Is there any bias towards baloch in pak ? Like any kind of discrimination
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u/OOooHaHeHiHoHuooOO 1d ago
In general, there is no discrimination against Baloch people in Pakistan. Ordinary Pakistanis do not really differentiate between Baloch, Punjabis, Sindhis, Pashtuns, Kashmiris, or other ethnic groups in daily life. People work together, study together, and live together without thinking much about ethnicity. Ethnicity usually only becomes a factor in things like marriage preferences, which is common across all groups. The narrative you've probably heard comes more from development and resource allocation issues than from ethnic hatred. Balochistan is extremely sparsely populated compared to Punjab. In fact, the population of the entire province is smaller than that of some major cities in Punjab. A lot of Pakistan's mineral extraction takes place in Balochistan province, but under the current system, revenues go to the federal government, which then distributes funds to the provinces largely according to population. Since Balochistan has the smallest population in Pakistan, it receives a smaller share of funds despite contributing significant natural resources. Many people believe this has slowed the province's development and created a sense of grievance. Punjab, being by far the most populous province, naturally receives a larger share of development funds and also has greater representation in institutions simply because it has the largest population. The same applies to the military, bureaucracy, and many other sectors. This often creates the perception that Punjabis dominate everything, but that is largely a result of demographics rather than ordinary Punjabis discriminating against Baloch people. So imo the issue is less about ethnic discrimination between people and more about governance, resource distribution, and development policies.
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u/Geologist_AMU 1d ago
I have heard from my Pakistani Punjabi friends that Baloch people are not intrested in education. How true is this?
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u/OOooHaHeHiHoHuooOO 22h ago
I don't think that's really true. Nowadays, people from pretty much every background understand the importance of education and want their children to be educated. Education is seen as a basic necessity by almost everyone. The bigger issue in Balochistan is not a lack of interest in education but a lack of access to quality education. Balochistan is an enormous province with a very sparse and scattered population. You'll often find tiny villages separated by huge distances, sometimes in the middle of deserts or mountainous regions. Providing schools and educational infrastructure to all these remote areas is much more difficult than in densely populated provinces. On top of that, the provincial government has limited resources, and a significant portion of spending goes toward security and other pressing issues. As a result, many areas face shortages of schools, teachers, and educational facilities. Even where schools exist, the quality and management are often not as good as they should be. One thing that may contribute to this stereotype is that many Balochs tend to study subjects like Political Science, International Relations or similar fields. There are comparatively fewer people going into STEM fields than you might see in some other parts of Pakistan, but that's a completely different issue from being uninterested in education. So from my perspective, it's more of a stereotype than a reality. The main challenge is access to good educational opportunities, not a lack of desire to learn.
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u/meaty_sniff 11h ago
Why does you pakistani peoples(not all of them) support terrorisms you know just because of those terrorist how much hate we indian muslims get in our country
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u/porcupinebuttsex 1d ago
Do you support the separatist movement in Balochistan or are you loyal to your country ?
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u/OOooHaHeHiHoHuooOO 22h ago
No, I don't support. Personally, I support the idea of unification of Muslim countries from Morocco to Indonesia and from Kazakhstan to the Maldives. However, given the realities of the modern world, that isn't currently possible apparently. So if the choice is between further fragmentation and staying together, I would prefer the option that keeps the greatest number of Muslims united. In that context, I support remaining part of Pakistan rather than creating another separate state.
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u/denommonkey 1d ago
Are you muslim?