Balawaristan (, ), is a term coined by Nawaz Khan Naji, founder of the Pakistani political party Balawaristan National Front (BNF), for a proposed autonomous province or a sovereign state consisting of Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral and Kohistan regions in Pakistan as well as the Indian-controlled Ladakh. Although the name, first used in 1989, does not have any historical basis, it sounds similar to Baloristan, which has been documented in Chinese and medieval Islamic sources to describe Baltistan and Gilgit Valley from the 8th century CE.
BNF activists affirm that Balawaristan is not a part of Kashmir and has a unique identity. They also consider the people of Gilgit Baltistan to be the fourth party in the Kashmir dispute, the other three being Pakistan, India and Kashmir.
Etymology
Historically, the Baltistan region was called Great Bolor and Dardistan and parts of Brushal (e.g. Gilgit Valley) were called Little Bolor; collectively the two were called Bolor or Boloristan. Great Bolor is known to have sent ambassadors to the Chinese court in the 8th century. The Mons, an Indo-Aryan group, made the region as a hub of Buddhism. Chinese historian Faxian mentioned it as Pololo or Palolo, Tibetans called it Nang-khod, where Arab historians mentioned it as Baloristan.
Political status movements
In more recent times, the name Balawaristan is found used by Gilgiti political party like Balawaristan National Front led by Nawaz Khan Naji. The party is seeking to declare Gilgit-Baltistan as the fifth province of Pakistan. The party has been represented in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly by a single member, the aforementioned Nawaz Khan Naji, between 2011 and 2025.
The Balawaristan National Students Organisation, in April 2008, raised a demand for Balawaristan to be constituted into the fifth province of Pakistan.
Proposed flags
See also Shinaki Bolor-Tagh Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Karakoram Province
References
Bibliography