# Baloch of Afghanistan

The Baloch of Afghanistan (Balochi: اوگانستان ءِ بلۏچ; Persian: بلوچ های افغانستان) are Baloch people who live in the southwestern of Afghanistan, Balochistan Afghanistan along the border with Iran and Pakistan. The number of the Baloch in Afghanistan is estimated at 1 million people or roughly 2% of the population of Afghanistan.
They are the majority in Nimroz Province. Baloch also have a presence in Helmand, Faryab, Takhar, Herat, Kandahar, Badakhshan and other parts of Afghanistan.

## History

The history of the Baloch presence in the land that is today called Afghanistan goes back early time. The author of the history of Sistan, in the description of the massacre and destruction of many, the Baloch and Majus around Hamun Lake, and mentions the presence of the Baloch in Sistan Basin(modern-day Balochistan in Nimruz province) the fifth century.
Šahrestānīhā ī Ērānšahr is a surviving Middle Persian text on Sasanian administrative geography and history, based on the source, Padishkhwārgar was a Sasanian province in and People who contributed to building 21 cities in Padishkhwargar were Baloch. Padishkhwargar was most probably located in southern hindukush.
Muhammad bin Khwandshah bin Mahmud, known as Mirkhvand, narrated in the book of Rawżat aṣ-ṣafāʾ, the battle of the Baloch led by Baloch Shah against Mubarak Shah the Khan of the Chagatai Khanate in Herat.
The Baloch chiefdom, the Sanjranis family who ruled Sistan with its capital at Chakansur in the early and late 19th century. Ibrahim Khan Sanjrani Fort is reported to belong to Sanjrani Chiefdom. It was a union of the Baloch tribes under the leadership of Sardar Ebrahim Khan Sanjarani and Sardar Sharif Nahrui. The battle between Ibrahim Khan Sanjrani Baloch and Abdur Rahman Khan took place on 1299/1882. Ibrahim Khan were defeated and the Afghan governor of Farāh captured the fort.
Baloch chieftains in Nimroz, Helmand, Farah and west bank of the river(Hirmand) had independent governments and were autonomous rulers of the region before the Goldsmith Treaty. Wars and conflicts from Britain and its Qajar subordinates led to the disintegration of these regions and the collapse of the Baloch government. This region was organized and controlled by the Baloch tribes. Several disputes occurred between the Persia government, the British army, and the local Baloch rulers at that time, which resulted in the loss of power from the Baloch rulers.
Nasir Khan I Ahmadzai the sixth Baloch ruler of kalat was one of the most prominent and influential rulers of the Khanate of Kalat. He played a crucial role in consolidating Baloch power, unifying the Baloch tribes, and shaping the political and administrative structure of the Khanate. Balochistan, Afghanistan was a part of Baloch rulers. The Baloch were present in Kandahar, Nimroz, Helmand and other parts of present-day Afghanistan during the rule of the Khanate of Kalat.
Front of Nimruz was founded in 1979 in Nimruz province of Afghanistan by Abdul Karim Brahui and Gul Mohammad Rahimi. It was a Baloch nationalist guerrilla group, representing the Baloch people of southwestern Afghanistan.
A number of Baloch migrated to Turkmenistan from the Chakhansur region in Afghanistan Nimroz province during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. The Baloch of Turkmenistan in the Merv and inner delta of the Murghab River are originally from the western and northern areas of Herat, Afghanistan, Chakhansur District in Nimroz Province, and Iran, who migrated in the mid-19th century.

## Culture

Rug weaving is a common profession among the Baloch tribes of Afghanistan. Balochi rugs, floor coverings made by the Baloch, are often sold in the Herat local market and global market.
The Baloch have their own dress code and have preserved the Baloch dress, which is their ancient tradition.Balochi needlework and Balochi handicrafts are the art of Baloch women in Afghanistan. Baloch women wear clothes called "Za Asteen Guptan", which are designed on Baloch needlework and embroidery.
Keeping and breeding camels, as well as holding camel riding competitions in Nimroz province, is popular among the Baloch.
The Baloch in Afghanistan speak the Balochi language. In the fall of 1978, Balochi was recognized as an official language of Afghanistan, alongside Pashto and Dari. A weekly newspaper in Balochi began publication in September 1978.
One of the famous Baloch customs is Chelo or Ramadani, where at the end of Eid(festival), the doors of houses are knocked on and the owners of the houses give them money, wheat, rice and biscuits. Another Baloch tradition in Afghanistan is called Shek Satin or Shab Nashini, where friends and acquaintances gather together on the night of Eid and stay up all night until morning.
Balochi music, Choub bazi and Balochi dance, Chaap are customy among the Baloch people in Afghanistan. The Baloch Council of Afghanistan(Balochi:اوگانستانی بلوچانی شورا ) is a Baloch socio-cultural organization that celebrates Baloch Culture Day every year.

## Notable people

Ghulam Mohammad Lalzad Baloch is a Baluchi language broadcast journalist, based in Toronto, Canada. He is originally from Nimroz Afghanistan. He was with the Baluchi service of All India Radio from 1974 to 2003.
Mohammad Naeem Baloch served as the governor of the Helmand Province in Afghanistan from 2012 until 2015. Prior to that, he worked as an Afghan intelligence officer in the Helmand Province.
Abdul Karim Brahui last served as Governor of Nimroz Province from 2010 to 2012, and before that he served as a minister in the Cabinet of Afghanistan. From February 2009 to August 2010, Brahui served as Minister of Refugees. In 2004, He was appointed as Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs. He was the head of the Baloch Council of Afghanistan for a while.
Mohammad Nader Baloch from Chakhansor district and graduated from the military faculty and then served as military officer. He served as chairman of the National Council of the Baloch of Afghanistan and elected representative of the people of Nimroz Province in the Senate.
Naeema Baloch was the head of the Afghan women Police before the Taliban came to power.
Farida Hamidi a Baloch women politician who was a representative of the people of Nimroz province in the 16th term of the House of the People(Afghanistan).
Razia Baloch was member of the Helmand Provincial Council. She participated in a Key Leader Engagement regarding women’s education in southern Afghanistan at the Kandahar International Airport, Afghanistan.(March 13, 2014).
Ghazi Sher Jan Baloch, who lived in the early 1920s, is a hero among the Baloch of Afghanistan, and songs are sung about him even today.
* Baloch of Afghanistan
* Naeem Baloch, center, the governor of Helmand province
* Nimroz Provincial Gov. Abdul Karim Brahui
* Razia Baloch (right), member of the Helmand Provincial Council.
* A Baloch man from Zaranj
* Baloch men in Qaradingo community of Rustaq district, Takhar province
* Qala -e- Mohammad is a village in Zaranj district of Nimroz province, Most of the people in this village are Baloch.