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Baloch–Kurdish relations

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Baloch–Kurdish relations covers the historical relations between Kurds and Baloch people, two Iranian peoples.[1]

History

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Balochis were described as being the group which has the closest historic links to Kurds, genealogically and linguistically. Kurds and Balochis, both being Iranic, originated from Andronovo in Central Asia, before migrating westwards accompanying each other. While in Aleppo, Balochis later migrated to the Caspian region, and then to modern day Balochistan, they left Aleppo in the 4th century and settled in Balochistan in the 7th century AD.[2] Aleppo still has a significant Kurdish population.[3] Balochis did not write about their origin until the 20th, before which they largely passed it down thru oral tradition.[4] Since the migration to Balochistan, the Balochi language became influenced by Persian, Urdu, Pashto, and Dravidian languages.[5] However, there is still similarities, and the two Western Iranian languages, despite being separated for so long, are still the closest languages to each other.[6][7][8] Balochis and Kurds, prior to their migration to Mesopotamia, also lived in the Alborz mountains. The word "borz", meaning "high", is found only in Balochi and Kurdish. Both Kurds and Balochis claim descent from the Medes.[9] Aside from the claims whether Baloch are descendants of Kurds, or whether Kurds are descendants of Baloch, they both belonged to the same tribes and were one group before the migrations.[10] There are Kurds with Balochi-language surnames and tribe names, and there is Balochis with Kurdish-language surnames and tribe names as well. Modern DNA samples of Balochis and Kurds confirmed a relation.[9]

In modern history, Balochis and Kurds, both stateless and divided across different countries, were always fond of each other. Balochis have been noted as more secular than others in their region.[11] Kurds have also been noted for being fairly secular.[12] Aside from secularists, even Islamists among the Kurds and Baloch have cooperated with each other in support of their independence movements.[13] Women played a big role in both the Kurdish and Balochi movements.[14] Following a wave of Balochi women-led protests against the Pakistani government, a group of Kurdish women sent a message titled "from Rojava to all the women and people of Balochistan" in which they said "until the end, we stand with you and we will not let go of each other".[15] Baloch groups showed overwhelming support for the 2017 Kurdish referendum.[16] Kurds who fled Saddam Hussein and went to Pakistan were often mistreated by Pakistani authorities, like the Baloch.[17] In Iran, where Kurds and Balochis both reside, there is a very notable solidarity between them.[18] They have accompanied each other in protests, chanting "Kurds and Balochis are brothers, all thirsty for the blood of the leader."[19] They both make a large number of prisoners in Iran.[20] The Islamic Republic commonly alleges that Israel and the United States are active in both the Balochi and Kurdish movements.[21][22] Turkey, while arresting Kurdish activists, has also arrested Baloch activists and handed them to Pakistan and Iran.[23][24] Allah Nazar Baloch of the BLF supported Kurds.[25] There were also reports of cooperation between the BLA and YPG, and plans to form a Kurdish-Balochi front in Afghanistan to attack Turkish and Pakistani bases, as well as to fund separatists in Kurdistan and Balochistan.[26]

References

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  1. ^ احمدزهی‌بلوچ, نصیرخان (2014). پیوند نژادی کرد و بلوچ در تاریخ بلوچ و بلوچستان. Našr-i Iḥsān. p. 1. ISBN 9786003490581.
  2. ^ Balochs of Pakistan: On the Margins of History. p. 9.
  3. ^ The Syrian Kurds: A People Discovered. p. 2.
  4. ^ "Historical Relationship Between Kurd and Baloch". The Baloch News. 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  5. ^ Balochs of Pakistan: On the Margins of History. p. 10.
  6. ^ "The Baloch people in Iran's grip". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  7. ^ "Kurds in Pakistan". Balochistan Voices. 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  8. ^ "Iranian languages - Persian, Kurdish, Balochi | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  9. ^ a b "Historical Relationship Between Kurd and Baloch". The Baloch News. 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  10. ^ Ahmed, Manzoor. The History of Baloch and Balochistan: A Critical Appraisal. p. 42.
  11. ^ Lewis, Martin W. (2015-09-09). "Kurdistan and Balochistan: Is National Self-Determination a Left/Right Issue?". GeoCurrents. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  12. ^ "Seasoned Skeptics Why Syrian Kurds Have Resisted Political Islam | The Washington Institute". www.washingtoninstitute.org. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  13. ^ "Baluch Insurgents in Iran". The Iran Primer. 5 April 2017.
  14. ^ Saya, Bapak (2024-02-29). "Kurdish women's movement: we stand with Balochi women to fight fascism". Medya News. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  15. ^ "Women in Rojava express solidarity with the women and people of Balochistan". ANF News. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  16. ^ "No force can stop will of Kurdish people: Baloch organizations". Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  17. ^ "Pakistani forces raided on Kurdish refugees". Kurdsat. 4 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October2014.
  18. ^ Broomfield, Matt (2024-02-19). "Balochistan Finds Its Voice". Truthdig. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  19. ^ "Security Forces Killing In Kurdish, Baloch Cities But Dancing In Tehran". Iran International. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  20. ^ Azeez, Hawzhin (2023-06-05). "A Rise in Executions of Kurds and Baloch by Iran". The Kurdish Center for Studies. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  21. ^ The Baloch Insurgency: Linking Iran to Pakistan, page 4, Rehman
  22. ^ "Israeli Kurdophilia and the American 'Betrayal' of the Syrian Kurds". www.international.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  23. ^ Kumar, Rahul (2022-11-22). "Was Baloch rebel leader Gulzar Imam trapped in Turkey and handed over to Pak ISI?". Indianarrative. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  24. ^ "بازداشت عبدالله بزرگ‌زاده فعال بلوچ توسط سازمان میت ترکیه". ANF News (in Persian). Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  25. ^ "Balochistan leader Dr Allah Nazar condemns Turkey, supports Kurds". News Intervention. 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  26. ^ "BLA trying to use Kurdish terrorists in the region". IRIA News. 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2024-05-19.