Baloch–Kurdish relations
{{Short description|Diplomatic relations between Baloch and Kurdish peoples}}Baloch–Kurdish relations covers the historical relations between Kurds and Baloch people.{{Cite book |last=احمدزهیبلوچ |first=نصیرخان |title=پیوند نژادی کرد و بلوچ در تاریخ بلوچ و بلوچستان |date=2014 |isbn=9786003490581 |pages=1|publisher=Našr-i Iḥsān }}
Origin
The Baloch and Kurds were generally considered the closest nations to each other, both ethnically and linguistically. Kurds and Balochis originated from Andronovo in Central Asia, before migrating westwards. According to Balochi folklore, the Baloch settled around Aleppo, later migrating to the Caspian region in the 4th century, before settling in Balochistan in the 7th century.{{Cite book |title=Balochs of Pakistan: On the Margins of History |pages=9}} Aleppo had a significant Kurdish population, although ethnic cleansing during the Syrian civil war had affected it.{{Cite book |title=The Syrian Kurds: A People Discovered |pages=2}} The Balochi language was influenced by Persian, Urdu, Pashto, and Dravidian languages.{{Cite book |title=Balochs of Pakistan: On the Margins of History |pages=10}} However, both Kurdish and Balochi were considered the closest languages to each other and were classified as Northwestern Iranian.{{Cite web |date=2018-10-13 |title=The Baloch people in Iran's grip |url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/the-baloch-people-in-irans-grip-569320 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-09-29 |title=Kurds in Pakistan |url=https://www.balochistanvoices.com/2023/09/kurds-in-pakistan/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Balochistan Voices |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Iranian languages - Persian, Kurdish, Balochi {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Iranian-languages/Modern-Iranian |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2017-09-29 |title=Historical Relationship Between Kurd and Baloch |url=https://www.thebalochnews.com/2017/09/29/kurd-baloch/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=The Baloch News |language=en-US}} Both the Baloch and Kurds claimed descent from the Medes. Their folklore also made mentions of the Alborz mountains, and Kurdish and Balochi were the only languages in which the word "borz" meant "high". Both folklores claimed that their ancestors belonged to the same tribes. There were conflicting claims about whether the Baloch were descendants of the Kurds, or whether the Kurds were descendants of the Baloch. However, the general claims were that neither group descended from the other, rather they had common ancestors and split after the migrations.{{Cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Manzoor |title=The History of Baloch and Balochistan: A Critical Appraisal |pages=42}} Historically, there have been Kurds with Balochi names, and Baloch with Kurdish names. DNA samples of Baloch and Kurds in the 2010s confirmed a relation.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2017-09-29 |title=Historical Relationship Between Kurd and Baloch |url=https://www.thebalochnews.com/2017/09/29/kurd-baloch/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=The Baloch News |language=en-US}}
The most argued hypothesis on the localization of the ethnic territory of the Kurds was D.N. Mackenzie's theory, proposed in the early 1960s.{{cite journal |last=Tedesco |first=Paul M. |date=1921 |title=Dialektologie der westiranischen Turfantexte |journal=Le Monde Oriental |language=de |volume=15 |page=255 |number=1}} It regarded the common phonetic isoglosses shared by Kurdish, Persian, and Balochi. D.N. Mackenzie proposed the creation of Kurdish-Persian-Balochi, which would have been a branch of the Northwestern Iranian languages consisting of Kurdish, Persian, and Balochi. He claimed that they had common ancestors, and that the Persians were descendants of those who lived in the province of Fars, Kurds were the descendants of those who lived to the southeast of Kurdistan, while the Balochis were descendants of those who lived to the west of Kurdistan before their migration to Balochistan.Asatrian, Garnik (2009). "Prolegomena to the Study of the Kurds". Iran and the Caucasus. 13: 1–57. pp. 87. doi:10.1163/160984909X12476379007846. However, only Kurdish and Balochi were classified as Northwestern Iranian, while Persian was classified as Southwestern Iranian.Windfuhr, Gernot (1987). Comrie, Berard (ed.). The World's Major Languages. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 523–546. ISBN 978-0-19-506511-4. Other Northwestern Iranian languages close to Kurdish and Balochi included the Semnani languages and the Caspian languages.Lecoq, Pierre (1989). "Les dialectes caspiens et les dialectes du nord-ouest de l'Iran". In Schmitt, Rüdiger (ed.). Compendium Linguarum Iranicarum. Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag. pp. 296–314
History
Balochis and Kurds established solidarity after the division of Balochistan and Kurdistan across different countries, as well as being stateless. While both groups followed Islam, their national movements were largely secular. secularism in Balochistan was significant in the national movement.The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor of the Belt and Road Initiative: Concept, Context and Assessment, Siegfried O. Wolf, 2019, pp. 98The Redefined Dimensions of Baloch Nationalist Movement, Malik Siraj Akbar, 2011, pp. 139China’s Belt and Road Initiative in a Global Context, Volume II: The China Pakistan Economic Corridor and Its Implications for Business · Volume 2, 2019, pp. 160 The Kurdish movement was also known for secularism.{{Cite web |title=Seasoned Skeptics Why Syrian Kurds Have Resisted Political Islam {{!}} The Washington Institute |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/seasoned-skeptics-why-syrian-kurds-have-resisted-political-islam |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=www.washingtoninstitute.org |language=en}} Baloch and Kurds, along with Pashtuns, often faced alienation from the Islamic world, as the separatist movements in Balochistan, Kurdistan, and Pashtunkhwa aimed at gaining independence from predominantly Muslim states.What Is Moderate Islam?, Richard L. Benkin, 2017, pp. 152 Baloch nationalists claimed that the international community was silent on Balochistan, and that Kurds had been the only ones who supported the Baloch.What Is Moderate Islam?, 2017, pp. 182
In Iranian Khorasan, the Khorasani Baloch and Khorasani Kurds live in close proximities, and both were largely deported there by various Iranian dynasties.{{citation |last1=Madih |first1=‘Abbas-‘ Ali |title=The Kurds of Khorasan |date=2007 |journal=Iran and the Caucasus |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=11–31 |doi=10.1163/157338407X224879}}{{cite book |last1=Schiffman |first1=Harold F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=52aicl9l7rwC |title=Language Policy and Language Conflict in Afghanistan and Its Neighbors |date=2012 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=9789004201453 |page=326}} Baloch and Kurds also formed minority populations in Turkmenistan.The Handbook of Cross-Border Ethnic and Religious Affinities, Charity Butcher, 2019, pp. 307 In Soviet Turkmenistan, the Kurds and Baloch both had their own newspapers and textbooks, and both of their languages were written in the Latin script.{{cite web |title=Жизнь курдской общины в Туркменистане [The life of the Kurdish community in Turkmenistan] |url=http://www.gundogar.org/?0221042238000000000000013000000 |access-date=2 December 2012 |work=Gündogar |language=ru}}{{cite journal |last1=Kokaislová & Kokaisl |first1=Pavla & Petr |date=2019 |title=The Ethnic Identity of Turkmenistan's Baloch |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26704760 |journal=Asian Ethnology |volume=78 |issue=1 |pages=181–196 |jstor=26704760}} However, after Turkmen independence, Saparmurat Niyazov repressed minorities in his attempt to promote Turkmen culture.{{cite web |title=Жизнь курдской общины в Туркменистане [The life of the Kurdish community in Turkmenistan] |url=http://www.gundogar.org/?0221042238000000000000013000000 |access-date=2 December 2012 |work=Gündogar |language=ru}} Mainly the Baloch were forbidden from teaching their language and culture in schools.{{cite web |title=Alternative report on the Human Rights situation in Turkmenistan for the Universal Periodic Review |url=http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/Alternative_report_Turk_UPR_eng.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430081311/http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/Alternative_report_Turk_UPR_eng.pdf |archive-date=2009-04-30 |access-date=2010-07-23 |publisher=FIDH}}
In the 1960s, amid unrest in Kurdistan and an insurgency in Balochistan, there was an agreement signed between Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey, known as the Regional Cooperation for Development in 1964. The alliance had its rationale in the shared desire to suppress the Baloch and Kurdish insurgencies.Essays on Baloch National Struggle in Pakistan: Emergence, Dimensions, Repercurssions [sic], Jānmahmad, 1989, pp. 67
Women played a big role in both the Kurdish and Balochi movements.{{Cite web |last=Saya |first=Bapak |date=2024-02-29 |title=Kurdish women's movement: we stand with Balochi women to fight fascism |url=https://medyanews.net/kurdish-womens-movement-we-stand-with-balochi-women-to-fight-fascism/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Medya News |language=en-GB}} 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".{{Cite web |title=Women in Rojava express solidarity with the women and people of Balochistan |url=https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/women-in-rojava-express-solidarity-with-the-women-and-people-of-balochistan-71471 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=ANF News |language=en}} Balochi groups showed overwhelming support for the 2017 Kurdish referendum.{{Cite web |title=No force can stop will of Kurdish people: Baloch organizations |date=25 September 2017 |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/12808-No-force-can-stop-will-of-Kurdish-people:-Baloch-organizations- |access-date=September 25, 2017}} Kurds who fled Saddam Hussein and went to Pakistan were often mistreated by Pakistani authorities alongside the Baloch."Pakistani forces raided on Kurdish refugees". Kurdsat. 4 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October2014. There was a very notable solidarity between Kurds and Baloch in Iran.{{Cite web |last=Broomfield |first=Matt |date=2024-02-19 |title=Balochistan Finds Its Voice |url=https://www.truthdig.com/articles/balochistan-finds-its-voice/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Truthdig |language=en-US}} They often protested together, chanting "Kurds and Balochis are brothers, all thirsty for the blood of the leader."{{Cite web |title=Security Forces Killing In Kurdish, Baloch Cities But Dancing In Tehran |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202211253506 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Iran International |date=25 November 2022 |language=en}} Most prisoners in the Islamic Republic of Iran were Kurds and Baloch.{{Cite web |last=Azeez |first=Hawzhin |date=2023-06-05 |title=A Rise in Executions of Kurds and Baloch by Iran |url=https://nlka.net/eng/a-rise-in-executions-of-kurds-and-baloch-by-iran/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=The Kurdish Center for Studies |language=en-US}} The Islamic Republic commonly accused Israel and the United States are active in both the Balochi and Kurdish movements.The Baloch Insurgency: Linking Iran to Pakistan, page 4, Rehman{{Cite web |title=Israeli Kurdophilia and the American 'Betrayal' of the Syrian Kurds |url=https://www.international.ucla.edu/israel/article/211984 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=www.international.ucla.edu |language=en}} Turkey, while arresting Kurdish activists, had also arrested Baloch activists and extradited them to Pakistan and Iran.{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Rahul |date=2022-11-22 |title=Was Baloch rebel leader Gulzar Imam trapped in Turkey and handed over to Pak ISI? |url=https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/was-baloch-rebel-leader-gulzar-imam-trapped-in-turkey-and-handed-over-to-pak-isi-75065.html |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Indianarrative |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=بازداشت عبدالله بزرگزاده فعال بلوچ توسط سازمان میت ترکیه |url=https://anfpersian.com/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B2%D8%B1%DA%AF-%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%88%DA%86-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%B1%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%87-54537 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=ANF News |language=fa}}
Militant
Early Baloch separatists were inspired by Kurdish separatists and sympathized with them. The BLA had also been inspired by the PKK, especially by its ideology, tactics, motivations, and the equality of men and women. The Baloch nationalists also viewed the Kurdish nationalist movement as a historical parallel.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-03-02 |title=Case of the BLA and PKK |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1895249 |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=Dawn.com |language=en}}
Allah Nazar Baloch of the BLF supported Kurdish independence.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-10-16 |title=Balochistan leader Dr Allah Nazar condemns Turkey, supports Kurds |url=https://www.newsintervention.com/balochistan-leader-dr-allah-nazar-condemns-turkey-supports-kurds/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=News Intervention |language=en-US}} There were also reports of cooperation between BLA and Syria-based PKK militants, and plans to form a Kurdish-Baloch front in Afghanistan to attack Turkish and Pakistani interests, and to fund separatists in Kurdistan and Balochistan.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-06 |title=BLA trying to use Kurdish terrorists in the region |url=https://www.ir-ia.com/news/bla-trying-to-use-kurdish-terrorists-in-the-region/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=IRIA News |language=en-US}}
Baloch nationalist and separatist parties are and were cooperate with Kurdish parties.
PAK was Reported: Baloch parties like Jundallah and BLA are sent us some rifles and militants for fight against ISIS and Salafi-Jihadi groups.
Mahal Baloch, a BLA female suicide bomber during the August and militants for fight against ISIS and Salafi-Jihadi groups.
24 Balochistan attacks, had adopted her alias "Zilan Kurd" after Zeynep Kınacı.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-28 |title=ماہل بلوچ اور آپریشن ھیروف: بلوچستان میں ایف سی کیمپ پر خودکش حملہ کرنے والی 23 سالہ طالبہ شدت پسند تنظیم کا حصہ کیسے بنیں؟ |url=https://www.bbc.com/urdu/articles/cvg5d5py0z0o.amp |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=BBC News اردو |language=ur}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-09-09 |title=استبول حملہ: کردوں نے اپنا حملہ بلوچ فدائین ماہل و رضوان سے منسوب کردیا |url=https://thebalochistanpost.com/2024/09/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%DB%81-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%88%DA%BA-%D9%86%DB%92-%D8%A7%D9%BE%D9%86%D8%A7-%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%DB%81-%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%88%DA%86-%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%A7/ |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=The Balochistan Post |language=en-US}} On September 3, 2024, armed Kurdish pro-PKK militants entered Şişli Plaza in Istanbul, burning, ransacking, and destroying Turkish government properties. They claimed that the attack was provoked by the imprisonment of Abdullah Öcalan, and dedicated the attack to Mahal Baloch, and Rizwan Baloch, who was another BLA suicide bomber during the same attack.{{Cite web |title=HBDH Tekin Goyi Milisleri'nden İstanbul'da eylem |url=https://firatnews.com/kadin/hbdh-tekin-goyi-milisleri-nden-Istanbul-da-eylem-202592 |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=ANF News |language=tr}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-09-07 |title=HBDH Tekin Goyi Milisleri'nden İstanbul Şişli'de sabotaj eylemi |url=https://umutgazetesi44.org/arsivler/122434 |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=Umut Gazetesi |language=tr}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=PKK-Affiliated Group Claims Responsibility for Istanbul Attack, Dedicates It to Baloch "Fidayeen" |url=https://thebalochistanpost.net/2024/09/pkk-affiliated-group-claims-responsibility-for-istanbul-attack-dedicates-it-to-baloch-fidayeen/ |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=The Balochistan Post |language=en-US}}