How did the British overcome the first invasion of Balochistan?

This is the incident of 1867 which is considered as the first invasion of Baloch in history. Bugti tribes raided Sindh areas and captured 15 thousand cattle. Immediately after that, he turned to Dera Ghazi Khan area of ​​Punjab and burnt a few villages and this chain continued.

At that time Lieutenant Robert Sandeman was posted as Deputy Commissioner in Dera Ghazi Khan. The boundaries of the district coincided with the territories of the Khan of Kalat, in which Murri, Bugti and Khetran tribes settled, who were independent and did not obey the orders of the Khan of Kalat. Politically, the entire area was under the British Political Agent of Sindh, whose headquarters used to be Jacobabad, but in practice it was not governed.

When the Bugti tribes in Dera Ghazi Khan suffered damage due to looting, Robert Sandeman contacted the Political Agent of Sindh and the Khan of Kalat for reparation, but both of them showed their inability by saying that their jurisdiction over these tribes was limited. Not an option.

Robert Sandeman devised a strategy to deal with the Baloch tribes on his own. Before this, these tribes were either fighting among themselves or looting against other tribes located on their borders. The decentralization and insecurity in Balochistan had become a problem for the British government because the Russian troops had reached the Pamirs, so the British wanted to control Balochistan practically, but it was difficult because it was a remote and difficult area. Robert Sandeman carefully studied the traditions and culture of the Baloch and presented his recommendations. Finally, the British government approved Sandeman’s ‘Policy of the Hearts’ (Policy of the Hearts).

Sandeman’s analysis was that these tribes cannot be controlled by gunfire and peace cannot be established without their involvement. First their problems should be understood and then they should be honored and respected keeping in mind their traditions. Perhaps in view of Robert Sandeman, one of his predecessors had said about the Baloch that ‘he does not refuse if his life is demanded by honoring the Baloch.’

This policy proved to be so effective that Rai Bahadur Hatu Ram, the author of Tarikh-i Balochan, was forced to write that ‘Robert Sandeman used to patrol among the Baloch and Pathan tribes, these people called him their dear and for him. They were ready to sacrifice their lives.’

The story of how Robert Sandeman subjugated these hardy and brave tribes contains lessons that our administration needs to adopt today. For example, the first thing he did was to recruit some people from these tribes into the frontier militia, which had two tasks. Firstly, they will keep the government informed about the area and secondly, when the robbers from their area come that way to loot, they will chase them and catch them.

But these people were more loyal to their tribes than the government. It often happened that the robbers would go away after looting. The militiamen would help them in looting and when they returned to their own territories, they would report to the British government that they had crossed the border. Robert Sandeman began to develop contacts with the militia and the leaders of these tribes and invited the Murri, Bugti and Khetran tribes to negotiate for peace. Tribal representatives came and went but refused any kind of cooperation.

Ghulam Hussain Suri, a famous dacoit who was wanted by the government in several robberies, was also in the negotiating group. Sandeman gave him a clear message that if he entered Dera Ghazi Khan district with the intention of robbery, he would not be able to return alive. Robert Sandeman, despite the refusal of the tribes, ensured their honorable return home through the militia, which surprised the opposing tribes and influenced the pro-government tribes to the point that they were ready to kill Robert Sandeman. went

In 1867, Ghulam Hussain Suri attacked the Harand area in Dera Ghazi Khan with about 1500 Lashkari from both Murri and Bugti tribes. This army killed some people of Gurchani tribe and drove away hundreds of cattle. The militia moved to fight, on the other hand, hundreds of people from Gurchani and Lund tribes also ran in pursuit. Militias and pro-Robert Sandeman tribes surrounded the Baloch tribes near Dara Chachar. Ghulam Hussain Suri was killed along with 120 of his companions while more than two hundred robbers were arrested and imprisoned by Sandeman. Livestock and stolen goods were recovered.

Because of this one incident, the British government and Robert Sandeman made a fuss in the area. For the first time, the people and the pro-government tribes realized that the government could protect them. Baloch tribes still consider Ghulam Hussain Suri as their hero and say that he used to loot only in British territories and the British made him a bandit. However, after the death of Ghulam Hussain Suri, Sandeman sent a message to Murri, Bugti and Khetran tribes that if they wanted to free their men, they should come to him and negotiate.

On the other hand, the Baloch tribes were afraid that it might be a trick of the British that he would call them and imprison them or shoot them. Because earlier such incidents had happened with Khan of Kalat and Sardar Muhammad Saeed Khan. However, trusting Sandeman’s message, the representatives of the three tribes came to Rajanpur under the leadership of Sardar Gurmeen Khan Murri, Sardar Ghulam Murtaza Khan Bugti, Sardar Babul Khan and Sardar Syed Khan Khetran to meet Sandeman. As a result of the detailed negotiations, the three tribes assured not to commit any looting or illegal activities within the limits of Dera Ghazi Khan in the future, but even said that the roads leading from Dera to these tribes should also be protected. will

In return, Robert Sandeman issued orders to pay each chief a sumadar and ten horsemen. On the recommendation of these chieftains, militiamen of Murri, Bugti tribes were posted in Rajanpur and Khetran tribesmen were posted in Dera Ghazi Khan. The prisoners of all the tribes were handed over to them and they were respectfully sent back after the necessary treatment. Surprisingly, no party has ever violated this agreement. The effect of this diplomacy was that those tribes who were not under British rule also came to Robert Sandeman to settle their disputes. Sandeman brought many tribes together by ending their mutual animosity.

Since then, Sandeman stayed in Balochistan for 18 years and during that time he used to roam around Balochistan without security forces. These tribes became their protectors and hosts as well. Thanks to these policies, he included the entire Balochistan under the British administration and agencies and cantonments were built in different areas. Sandeman rose to become Colonel, Agent to the Governor-General of India in Balochistan and then Commissioner Balochistan. He died in 1892 while visiting Lasbella.

His death saddened the Baloch tribes so much that a condolence meeting was held in which it was decided to build a monument in Robert Sandeman’s memory. This monument is still located in Sandeman Park in Bela Tehsil of Las Bela. Sandeman built a fort in Zhob in Balochistan in 1889, due to which the city also became known as Fort Sandeman, which was renamed Zhob in 1976.

A history lesson

The famous philosopher Santiana said that those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it. The fifth Baloch invasion is currently underway in Pakistan. The current streak is the longest since 2005. During the reign of Robert Sandeman, the conflict also started with the Bugti tribes, but Robert Sandeman had the understanding that he gave the ‘Head and Hearts Policy’ and made it successful.

Perhaps today we don’t have people with understanding like Robert Sandeman in our institutions due to which the Baloch invasion is taking a new direction every day. On the one hand, power sharing has been done with the supporting tribes, but on the other hand, no diplomacy has been successful for the warring tribes.

Even the pre-announced and targeted killing of a pro-Pakistan Baloch chief like Akbar Bugti fueled the flames of hatred in the hearts of the Baloch.

When Imran Khan came to power, he certainly made happy announcements to bring the Baloch into the national stream and reconciliation with them, but nothing came of it. Perhaps even today, Baloch are looking at Robert Sandeman and saying, ‘Give respect to Baloch, then he will even risk his life for you.’