Fort Towson

The Baloch diaspora (Balochi: دَرمُلکی بلۏچ or دَرانڈݔھی بلۏچ, romanized: Darmolki Balòc) refers to Baloch people, and their descendants, who have immigrated to places outside the Balochistan region of South-West Asia – a region stretching from southwestern Pakistan to southeastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. The Baloch diaspora is found throughout the Middle East, South Asia, Turkmenistan, East Africa, Europe, North America and in other parts of the world.

Pakistan

Within Pakistan, there are significant numbers of Baloch tribes that have migrated partially or totally and settled in regions outside of Balochistan, mostly into Sindh. Some have also migrated into southern Punjab, especially in the Saraiki speaking regions as well as southeast Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Many have become entirely assimilated into their host cultures. The Zardari tribe Jatoi tribe and Chandio and Magsi tribes for example are now culturally Sindhi Baloch. The Talpur dynasty is a Baloch tribe that ruled over Sindh. Meanwhile, the Legharis of Sindh and Southern Punjab speak both Sindhi and Saraiki.

Worldwide populations

Europe

There are also significant populations in Norway, Sweden, and other European countries.

Khorasan

There is a population of Baloch in Khorasan mainly in Birjand, Sabzevar, quchan, Neishabur, Sarakhs and other cities of Khorasan.^[1][2][3]

Turkmenistan

There is a population of Baloch in Turkmenistan who migrated there in the early 20th century, estimated in 1997 to number between 38,000 and 40,000.^[4][5]

East Africa

There is also a small but historic Baloch community in East Africa, left over from when the Sultanate of Muscat ruled over Zanzibar and the Swahili Coast.^[6][7] These migrants were largely from Makran and southern Balochistan. A majority of them still have ties to their families back in Makran.one of the most famous Baluchi people in Tanzania is Rostam Aziz. In Uganda one Balochi called Jalalkhan finally settled at Kaberamaido in eastern Uganda and also Kamuli district at Nduria village. He planted many mango trees and other fruits in both places and they are famous places for mangoes to this day.

India

There are also a number of settlements of Baloch in India, mainly in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. They now speak either Balochi Urdu, Gujarati and Kutchi, depending on their location.

North America

Smaller but sizeable Baloch communities are found throughout various states in the United States and Canada. Baloch immigrants in North America have formed their own cultural associations and tend to keep the community active through social occasions.

See also

• Overseas Pakistani
• Sindhi Baloch
• Punjabi Baloch
• Baluch of India
• List of Baloch tribes
• Khorasani Baloch

References

Further reading

• Kokaislová, Pavla and Petr Kokaisl. Ethnic Identity of The Baloch People. Central Asia and The Caucasus. Journal of Social and Political Studies. Volume 13, Issue 3, 2012, p. 45-55. ISSN 1404-6091.
• Nicolini, Beatrice. The Baluch Role in the Persian Gulf during the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East – Volume 27, Number 2, 2007, pp. 384–396
• Nicolini, Beatrice, The Makran-Baluch-African Network in Zanzibar and East Africa during the XIXth Century^{[permanent dead link]}, African and Asian Studies, Volume 5, Numbers 3–4, 2006, pp. 347–370(24)
• Baloch Nationalism: Its Origin and Development, Taj Mohammad Breseeg, 2004