Why the Balochistan Issue Is Not the Same as the Kashmir Dispute

 

UNMOGIP (UN Military Observer Group in India & Pakistan)

Ginkgo Gulzar
(Academc International Research ID: ISSN: 0975-3095)

The Balochistan issue and the Kashmir dispute are often compared in political debates, but in reality, they are fundamentally different in origin, legal status, and international recognition. The Kashmir dispute is an internationally acknowledged conflict, rooted in the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent and governed by United Nations resolutions that recognize the right of self-determination. It involves multiple parties and remains on the global diplomatic agenda.

In contrast, Balochistan is a province within Pakistan, and its unrest is widely considered an internal political and governance issue. It does not carry international legal status, UN mediation, or disputed territorial claims between states. While grievances in Balochistan relate to development, representation, and rights, equating it with Kashmir oversimplifies complex realities and distorts historical facts.

UN Presence in Srinagar

Historically, the UNMOGIP (UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan) has maintained a field/hq presence in Srinagar seasonally to monitor ceasefire observations along the Line of Control. Its headquarters alternate between Srinagar (May to October) and Islamabad (November to April).

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