Nasir I of Kalat

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Mir Noori Naseer Khan Baloch the Khan (head of state) of the Kingdom of Kalat in what is now the Balochistan province of Pakistan and Iran during the eighteenth century.^[3] Naseer Khan used his eloquence and virtues to unite all the Baloch tribes and brought them under his banner.

Mir Muhammad Nasir Khan I (also known as Mir Noori Nasir Khan) was probably the most powerful of the Khans of Kalat who ruled for 45 years from 1749 to 1794. After an initial unsuccessful revolt against Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1758 he later became his most powerful ally and his Baloch Army fought alongside the Afghans of Abdali against the Persians, the Marathas and the Sikhs. The boundaries of the Khanate of Kalat under Nasir Khan I included those of modern Balochistan and the town of Karachi. Khan was the first ruler of Balochi regions to bring about healthy relations with other nations, and knit the tribal organization of the Balochs into one Baloch entity. Khan also established a Baloch parliament which could function on a workable constitution based on Islamic Sharia (Laws) Baluch traditions. People began to attach the word Wali, meaning 'a saint' , to his name for his efforts to bring about a united state. The Caliph in Turkey was so much impressed by his courageous services in the case of Islam that he conferred upon him the distinguished title of Ghazi-e-Deen (Hero of Islam) and Naseer-e-Millat-e-Mohammadiya (the supporter of the followers of Mohammad).

Rule and Prosperity[]

The 18th century Tatar traveler Gabaidulla Amirov, who visited Kalat, reports ^[4]

that Baluchis live in the city of Kalat. Justice is observed in these things, and local residents and passers-by do not tolerate theft or delinquency. State houses have been built for passers-by at all stations. meals are provided without payment. The possessions of the Naseer Khan border on Persia, and bargaining is underway with it and other neighboring peoples.

Nasir Khan ' s role in the prosperity and economic viability of Kalat is well - known and impressive . He took it upon himself to fashion laws and policies that would be most conducive to the exercise of business and trade . He made sure that land was supplied gratis to cultivators around Kalat .^[5]

March to Persia[]

Ahmad Shah detailed an advancearmy of five thousand selected Afghans under the command of Jahan Khan Popalzei, assisted by Mir Naseer Khan, chief of Kalat, in Balochistan, to march against Mashhad. On arrival at Turbat-i-Shaikh Jam, Jahan Khan sprang a surprise upon Mir Alam Khan by attacking him. Recovering from the first shock, Mir Alam hit back with great intrepidity and pushed back the Durranis. But the position was soon retrieved by a bold attack of Naser Khan of Kalat. Who charged the Turkmens with his three thousand horses and drove them away. Mir Alam was killed in the battle and his army was cut to pieces. Ahmad Shah then besieged Meshed, without much success, but finally, upon receipt of large sum of money, he replaced Shah Rukh on the throne under his suzerainty.^[6]

Dispute with Afghanistan[]

From 1749 to 1757, Nasir Khan's possession was autonomous, but he declared himself independent and severed his alliance with the Afghans in 1758. Ahmad Shah Durrani warned Nasir Khan of a bad consequence, but Nasir Khan accused Ahmad Shah of interfering in internal affairs Balochistan, and continued to demand an independent state. In support of Nasir Khan, all Balochi tribes united, armed with people ready to take up arms against Ahmad Shah. Ahmed Shah had to send an army against Nasir Khan Baloch under the command of his Prime Minister Shah Wali Khan, the battle took place at Pedangabad near Mastung, the troops of Shah Wali were defeated by Nuri Nasir Khan and were forced to retreat thirty miles from the battlefield. Hearing the news of the defeat, Ahmed Shah Durrani arrived with a huge army of Afghan tribes and defeated Nuri Nasir Khan in the Mastung area. Nasir Khan retreated to Kalat, Ahmad Shah did not follow him and did not storm Kalat, since it was a common Balochi tactic, he found that it was a trap. Ahmad Shah switched to more cunning tactics, his huge army went over to blockade Kalat town. Bitter Nasir Khan knew that his tactics were in vain, since Ahmad Shah did not proceed to the assault on Kalat, and Nasir Khan switched to another plan, Nassir Khan sent his mother and Mullah Khaizat with a request for pardon, but Ahmad Shah demanded surrender, Nasir khan gave in to the demand. Ahmed Shah and his son Timur Shah, and her brother accompanied her with the king back to Kabul. An agreement was concluded between Ahmed. Shah and Mir Nasir Khan. The main points of the agreement were as follows:

1) Khan-e-Baluch, Mir Nasir Khan will not pay tribute to the Afghan Shah in the future

2) Khan-i-Baloch will not supply san (military aid) but if he is at war with external enemies, the khan will provide a military contingent as a sign of assistance, on the condition that the Afghan king will annually provide Rs. 100,000 and military weapons, as well as the cost of the army as a reward.

3) Khan -e-Baloch will not provide any assistance or sanctuary to the rebel princes of Sadozai or Afghan leaders. On the other hand, the Afghan king will also not provide any assistance or shelter to the prince of the royal family Kalat-e-Ahmedzai

4) In the Future, Shah-i-Afghan will never interfere in the internal affairs and disputes of Balochistan.

5) All those Baloch regions that are in the possession of Shah-i-Afghan will be transferred today to Khan-i-Baluch (treaty after the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761). The Shah accepted these demands, and even promised economic support.^[7]

Despite Kalat's Acclaimed independence, it remained under the Durrani realm and Suzerainty until 1818.^[8]

References[]