Balawaristan (Urdu:بلاورستان,lit. 'Land of heights'), is a term coined byNawaz Khan Naji, founder of the Pakistani political partyBalawaristan National Front (BNF), for a proposed autonomous province or a sovereign state consisting ofGilgit-Baltistan,Chitral andKohistan regions in Pakistan as well as Indian-controlledLadakh. Although the name, first used in 1989, does not have any historical basis, it sounds similar toBaloristan, which has been documented inChinese sources to describeBaltistan andGilgit Valley from the 8th century CE.[1][2][3]
BNF activists affirm that Balawaristan is not a part ofKashmir and has a unique identity. They also consider the people of Gilgit Baltistan to be the fourth party in theKashmir dispute, the other three being Pakistan, India and Kashmir.[2][4]
Historically, the Baltistan region was called "Great Bolor" and Dardistan and parts of Brooshal (e.g. Gilgit Valley) were called "Little Bolor.[3]Great Boloristan is known to have sent ambassadors to the Chinese court in the 8th century.[3] The Mons, an Indo-Aryan group, made the region as a hub of Buddhism.
Chinese historianFaxian mentioned it asPololo orPalolo, Tibetans called it Nang-khod, where Arab historians mentioned it asBaloristan. The people of this region though belonging to various ethnicities, have historically been referred to as Balors, which means the highlanders ormountain people, a reference to the high-altitudes prevalent in this area. An alternative theory links the name to a mythic ancient king called Bolor Shah, who had first united the region and from whom local rulers in turn often claimed descent.
In more recent times, the name Balawaristan is found used by Gilgiti political party likeBalawaristan National Front led by Nawaz Khan Naji. The party is seeking to declareGilgit-Baltistan as the fifth province of Pakistan.[5] The party has been represented in theGilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly by a single member, the aforementioned Nawaz Khan Naji, since 2011.[6]
The Balawaristan National Students Organisation, in April 2008, raised a demand for Balawaristan to be constituted into the fifth province of Pakistan.[7]
The eastern half, Great Bolor, could afford to send several embassies to the Chinese court during the first half of the 8th century
Naji said that the federal government should declare Gilgit-Baltistan a province of Pakistan, give its people representation in the National Assembly and Senate, and extend the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to the region
Nawaz Khan Naji from the Balawarastan National Front won the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly by-elections in the L-A 19 constituency of Ghazar on Friday.
Historically, geographically and politically, Gilgit-Baltistan deserves to be a province. The people of the region should have the right to send their representatives to the National Assembly and Senate of Pakistan, of which they have been deprived for the last 60 years, said speakers at a seminar organised by the Balawaristan National Students Organisation here.