By: Shamreeza Baloch
The region of Balochistan is rich in mineral resources but deprived of the benefits for the Baloch masses. New Kahan, approximately 10 to 15 km away from the city’s main commercial and administrative hub, is a potent symbol of the Baloch struggle. The area is situated near Quetta’s Western Bypass. This settlement is intimately linked to the life and legacy of the iconic Baloch nationalist leader, Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, and its history is a chronicle of displacement, political resistance, and the enduring influence of the Marri tribe. However, for its current residents, the present is a stark story of profound socio-economic difficulties and government neglect, despite its proximity to the city.
The observation of the area seems vulnerable for the residents, which tackles a severe lack of basic facilities and infrastructure. The story of Allah Baksh, an old man and a resident of New Kahan since being displaced from Afghanistan with Khair Bakhsh Marri 35 years ago, describes the vulnerable living conditions. As the sole breadwinner for his family, he stated, “We don’t have anything to survive on except labor.” He expressed that government authorities mismanage their lives through search operations and the disappearance of most of the Marri tribe inhabitants. He added that none of the government authorities listen to or interact with them, leaving the community feeling completely backward from the world. Life in New Kahan is a continuous challenge, with residents facing socio-economic hardship due to a poor livelihood. They have no source of income other than labour-intensive work.
The recent visit is eye-witnessed that the infrastructural gap is massive. Although the Western Bypass is barely 3 km from New Kahan, the area itself has no roads, no gas, and no lights. Furthermore, the area has remained under a security lens, with occasional military operations and heightened political tensions, reflecting the broader complexities of the Balochistan conflict. Most of the youth witness the difficult conditions, and the lives of women are particularly disastrous. They are suppressed and afraid to raise their voices for their rights, with low awareness prevailing. The women, who are the quiet witnesses of New Kahan, seem suppressed and do not come forward to express their feelings for the betterment of the community. They are suppressed from speaking, even about their rights, and appear backward in today’s modern world. Residents confirmed there is no interest shown by the authorities on the government side. It highlights the psychological effects of the women living their lives under sage that creates the disastrous mental health of women’s empowerment.
Another factor has seen the lack of basic facilities extend to health and education. While the literacy rate for males in Balochistan stands at around 50.5%, and for females, a mere 32.8%. According to the report of “Faiz Baloch,” The enforced disappearance of a local teacher and his brother in New Kahan in 2020 represents a devastating failure of state authority to guarantee the fundamental security of its citizens. The resulting pervasive fear of vanishing has led directly to an unacceptable breakdown of the education system, compelling local families to withdraw their children from school due to acute safety concerns. New Kahan seems to have no Basic Health Unit (BHU), and the local educational infrastructure is represented by the existence of a “ghost school. This low awareness and poor education system is evident during a recent visit. One young girl enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program in Urdu at an SBK University was noted, shocking visitors due to the rarity of high literacy in the Marri tribe, New Kahan area.
The lack of infrastructure has led to tragedy. Sorat Khan Marri, another resident, spoke with deep sadness about the weak infrastructure and road conditions, which led to the death of his two young sons in a road accident. Now nearly 60, he is the only breadwinner for his family. He added that their area has no water tanker and no water system for daily use. The unavailability of drinking water is the biggest cause, making the concept of agriculture, a potential source of income and development, far removed from their daily lives.
The cruel news of Armaan’s death, Bibi Zehni’s beloved son, didn’t just wound the family. it shattered their entire world. This unbearable tragedy has left his mother utterly mentally broken, her mind surrounded by perpetual grief. To witness her consuming distress is a truly heartbreaking, collective pain that weighs heavily on the surrounding Baloch society. While mental health is paramount, the silent suffering endured by these martyred families is a distress far darker than any other. Armaan’s mother, the very embodiment of sorrow, makes her pilgrimage to her son’s grave every second or third day. There, amidst the cold stones of the graveyard, she spends hours pouring out her soul, carrying on a conversation with the silence that has stolen her child. Her story is but one agonizing thread in a tapestry of loss. Countless other tales exist that wrench the heart and haunt the soul.
Balochistan is rich in mineral resources, yet its people often lack necessities. New Kahan is no different, being far removed from essentials like gas. The masses must collect wood from the top of the hills for winter to burn, a desperate measure in the 21st century. When attempts were made to interview Marri women, they seemed traumatized and were not ready to talk, saying their elders were not present and they were not allowed. This strict patriarchy persists, causing them to fear raising their voices even for their own well-being.
