How do Baluchis feel about their Iranian history?

[Hamza913]

I'm very curious. The Baluchi people themselves are an Iranic ethnic group and migrated to the region of Baluchistan from around the Caspian Sea during the late Sassanid era. As we all know, the Caspian Sea was a part of the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanid empires, all of which were ethnically Iranian like the Baluchis. Even after the Sassanid era, you can see that large parts of Baluchistan were still a part of the major Iranian dynasties, with one of them (the Saffarids) even being originally from the the area. Here are some maps to display my point:

So I'm curious, do any Pakistani Baluchis here feel any attachment to their Iranian history? If not, why?

Also, I am not trying to challenge how Pakistani Baluchis that come from Pakistan are. Baluchis are no doubt an integral community of Pakistan, and Pakistani Baluchistan is an integral part of Pakistan. I am just curious as to how this past is viewed by Pakistani Baluchis on this forum.

@DESERT FIGHTER Asalamu Alaikum, you're the only person here I know who is Baluchi, please tag anyone else on here who is Baluchi and add your own opinion. Thanks.

 

[Samlee]

Actually Balochis Have Greater Links To Arabs via Oman and Gulf Although The Iranian Connection Cannot Be Fully Denied.

Google Al Baloushi Tribe and You Will Know

 

[Hamza913]

Actually Balochis Have Greater Links To Arabs via Oman and Gulf Although The Iranian Connection Cannot Be Fully Denied.

Google Al Baloushi Tribe and You Will Know

Asalamu Alaikum

I am aware of that link, as I did live in the Middle East for 4 and a half years.

However, I feel the Iranian connection is much stronger as Baluchis are ethnically Iranian, speak an Iranian language and were for a long time considered part of Iran.

 

[Well.wisher]

The patriotic would feel nothing special ..
The unpatriotic and rebel will exaggerate.

 

[Flash_Ninja]

Asalamu Alaikum

I am aware of that link, as I did live in the Middle East for 4 and a half years.

However, I feel the Iranian connection is much stronger as Baluchis are ethnically Iranian, speak an Iranian language and were for a long time considered part of Iran.

Was it IRAN or some Persian based empire? there is a big difference, Punjab has been ruled many times by conquerers from the West but we dont consider ourselves to be Turks or Afghans.

 

[Hamza913]

The patriotic would feel nothing special ..
The unpatriotic and rebel will exaggerate.

That would make sense, but I see no harm in the Pakistani patriots among the Baluchis also feeling a sense of joy over their Iranian history. Baluchistan is still an integral part of Pakistan, and completely broke away from Iranian influence after the Afsharid dynasty ended.

 

[Well.wisher]

That would make sense, but I see no harm in the Pakistani patriots among the Baluchis also feeling a sense of joy over their Iranian history. Baluchistan is still an integral part of Pakistan, and completely broke away from Iranian influence after the Afsharid dynasty ended.

My balochi friends donot think about that much .
Only some few unpatriotic and BLA, BSO, typa value it .

 

[Hamza913]

Was it IRAN or some Persian based empire? there is a big difference, Punjab has been ruled many times by conquerers from the West but we dont consider ourselves to be Turks or Afghans.

Asalamu Alaikum

The Baluchis themselves are an Iranic ethnic group, speak an Iranian language and originally came from Iran/Azerbaijan (Caspian Sea area). They were also a part of these Iranian empires for a long time, all the way from the start of Achamenids until the Afsharids bit the dust.

The difference between them and Punjabis saying it is that Punjabis are not an Iranic ethnic group, don't speak an Iranian language and for most of their history were not a part of these major Iranian dynasties. The only Iranian dynasties Punjabis have a connection to are the Kushans, Huns, Scythians and (many but not all of the) Islamic conquerors, which were only ethnically/culturally Iranian, none of them actually came from Iran.

My balochi friends donot think about that much .
Only some few unpatriotic and BLA, BSO, typa value it .

I thought they would at least value the Saffarids. Ah well, I guess not.

 

[Flash_Ninja]

Asalamu Alaikum

The Baluchis themselves are an Iranic ethnic group, speak an Iranian language and originally came from Iran/Azerbaijan (Caspian Sea area). They were also a part of these Iranian empires for a long time, all the way from the start of Achamenids until the Afsharids bit the dust.

The difference between them and Punjabis saying it is that Punjabis are not an Iranic ethnic group, don't speak an Iranian language and for most of their history were not a part of these major Iranian dynasties. The only Iranian dynasties Punjabis have a connection to are the Kushans, Huns, Scythians and (many but not all of the) Islamic conquerors, which were only ethnically/culturally Iranian, none of them actually came from Iran.

Walaikum salam

I believe Balochis consider themeselves a distinct group that has influences from various cultures, just like everybody else in Pakistan.

Its not uncommon for groups around the world to have been subjugated by a single power for a large part of their history, but that doesnt mean that they associate with them or see themselves as one people.

Another thing is that there are lots of different people in Baluchistan, some Persian descended some Arab descended, and even some (like the Brahui) descended from Eastern people. So you cant expect a satisfactory answer from a question this broad.

 

[Hamza913]

Walaikum salam

I believe Balochis consider themeselves a distinct group that has influences from various cultures, just like everybody else in Pakistan.

Its not uncommon for groups around the world to have been subjugated by a single power for a large part of their history, but that doesnt mean that they associate with them or see themselves as one people.

Another thing is that there are lots of different people in Baluchistan, some Persian descended some Arab descended, and even some (like the Brahui) descended from Eastern people. So you cant expect a satisfactory answer from a question this broad.

Right, but wouldn't one primarily identify with the main cultural influence upon themselves? The main influence on Baluchis (historically speaking) is ultimately from Iran, and they are part of the same race as most Iranians (the Iranic race). In my opinion, it doesn't quite count as foreign subjugation.

I'm talking about ethnic Baluchis, not Brahuis.

 

[Flash_Ninja]

Right, but wouldn't one primarily identify with the main cultural influence upon themselves? The main influence on Baluchis (historically speaking) is ultimately from Iran, and they are part of the same race as most Iranians (the Iranic race). In my opinion, it doesn't quite count as foreign subjugation.

I'm talking about ethnic Baluchis, not Brahuis.

Thats probably a question that only geneticists and anthropologists can definitively answer

Its my understanding though that culturally and historically they dont see themselves as a 'Persian' people, but they do have some cultural and societal influence from them. I dont think that this alone warrants categorising them as "Iranian".

 

[Hamza913]

Thats probably a question that only geneticists and anthropologists can definitively answer

Its my understanding though that culturally and historically they dont see themselves as a 'Persian' people, but they do have some cultural and societal influence from them. I dont think that this alone warrants categorising them as "Iranian".

They are an Iranic people, according to geneticists and anthropologists:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baloch_people

 

[Flash_Ninja]

They are an Iranic people, according to geneticists and anthropologists:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baloch_people

I was speaking wrt your question specifically

 

[Hamza913]

I was speaking wrt your question specifically

I do think these Iranian dynasties count as their history, but ultimately it's up to them to decide. I'm not Baluchi (well, I do have some ancestral ties to the place but it's very minimal, not enough for me to consider myself Baluchi anyway).

 

[Taimoor Khan]

Mehrgarh is the world oldest known human settlement, also considered to be early Indus civilization. It's bang in the middle of Baluchistan. Baluch, like other ethnicities of Pakistan are tied to our Indus civilization. We preceed any nation or race around us or even on global level, so how come we can origin from those who are new kids on the block?