Fall of Kalat State: British Occupation of Balochistan in 1839 A.D

Abstract

The focus of this paper is to find out the reasons behind the decline of Kalat state after the death of Noori Naseer Khan and its eventual collapse in 1839, after British attacked and occupied it. The paper would emphasize on the internal conflicts for disintegration of the state due to which British could easily occupied it. The paper would also attempt to explain the real motives of British for attacking the Khanate. Normally, most of the authors believe that it was a punitive attack on Kalat. They argue that British attacked the Kalat for violation of treaties by Khan. However, this paper also tries to answer the question that, would British not attacked or occupied the Kalat, if the agreements between Khan and British had been done smoothly. The author is of the view that it was just a justification for attack. From day one British was clear about occupying Kalat. British had developed contact with Shah Nawaz much before this whole drama of negotiations and agreements. Thus, the paper exposes the design of British occupying forces of blaming others for its violent actions.q