ABSTRACT
The chapter covers the first 23 years of Pakistan history. It analyses the whole process of accession of Kalat with Pakistan, challenging a number of established myths in Baloch as well as in Pakistan’s history. Analysing the negotiation between the Khan of Kalat and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Khan’s speeches to the two houses of Kalat, this chapter argues that it was the Khan of Kalat who made the whole process difficult and complicated. The use of different narratives and tone by him in his communication with Quaid-e-Azam and with Baloch sardars resulted in confusion and the perception that Pakistan wanted to occupy Kalat. This resulted in Prince Karim’s localized armed struggle against Pakistan. His letter to the Khan establishes that the Baloch perception about Quaid-e-Azam and Pakistan became negative as early as 1948. The chapter also demonstrates the failure of Pakistani policy makers in moving beyond the British model and administrative policy of ruling Balochistan. With increased political instability in the country and differences between the East and the West Pakistan during the 1950s and 1960s, nothing much could have been done about backward areas like Balochistan.
