Khanate of Kalat


The Khanate of Kalat was a Baloch Khanate, that existed from 1666 to 1955 in the centre of the modern-day province of Balochistan, Pakistan. Prior to that they were subjects of Mughal emperor Akbar. Ahmedzai Baloch and Brahui Khan ruled the state independently until 1839, when it became a self-governing state in a subsidiary alliance with British India. After the signature of the Treaty of Mastung by the Khan of Kalat and the Baloch Sardars in 1876, Kalat became part of the Baluchistan Agency. It was briefly independent from 12 August 1947 until 27 March 1948, when the Khan acceded his state to the new Dominion of Pakistan. It remained a princely state of Pakistan until 1955, when it was incorporated into the country.

Geography

The Khanate of Kalat occupied the central part of the territory of modern-day Balochistan province in Pakistan. To the north was Baluchistan.
The principal mountains are the Central Baloch, Kirthar, Pab, Siahan, Central Makran and Makran Coast Ranges, which descend in elevation from about 10,000 to. The drainage of the country is almost all carried off to the south by the Nari, Mula, Hab, Porali, Hingol and Dasht rivers. The only large river draining northwards is the Rakhshan. The coast line includes Gawadar, Pasni, Sonmiani and Geewani, modern-day Pakistani Balochistan.

Subdivisions

In the wake of Arab conquest toward the beginning of 8th century A.D. Kurdghalnamak - a recent discovered book written by Akhund Muhammad Saleh in the12th century A.D in Kalat -mentions that Baloch tribes came and settled in this area in the 853 B.C. In the 12th and 13th centuries Tarikh-i-Masumi records the presence of Balochis during the reign of Muhammad Tughlaq. According to Ta'rikh-i Yahyae al-muluk, at the end of the 16th century the Kelat region was under the control of the Safavids, but at the beginning of the 17th century the Baluchi tribe of Lashari stood up against the Sistan Khan and the Kermanian Beglar-Begi, and took control of Turan and Makran, until the Kelat Khanate appeared. The Khanate of Kalat was founded in 1666 by Mir Ahmad Khan. The Khanate reached at its peak during the period of Khan of Kalat Mir Naseer Khan Noori Ahmadzai Baloch, in 1758, who unified Kalat region under his flag. The territories controlled by the state fluctuated over the centuries but eventually were established by treaties with the British Agent Robert Sandeman in the late 19th century. Parts of the state to the north and northeast were leased or ceded to form the province of British Baluchistan which later gained the status of a Chief Commissioners province.
From 12 August 1947 to 27 March 1948, the region was de facto independent before acceding to Pakistan on 27 March 1948. The Baluchistan States Union was formed on 3 October 1952 with three neighbouring states. The Khanate of Kalat ceased to exist on 14 October 1955 when the province of West Pakistan was formed.
The khanate of Kelat had a flag green over red. In the center occupying the red part and a little part of the green, a large white crescent pointed upwards and a white star. Within the star and crescent an Islamic inscription. On the star is the Takbir and on the crescent moon is the Shahada. All of this is placed on the horizontal bicolor of green over red. These are colors to which Muslim Baluch assign great significance.

Rulers of Kalat

The rulers of Kalat held the title of Wali originally but in 1739 also took the title Khan usually shortened to Khan. The last Khan of Kalat had the privilege of being the President of the Council of Rulers for the Baluchistan States Union. They also had the title of beylerbey.
TenureKhan of Kalat
1512–1530Mir Bijar Khan Mirwani
1530–1535Mir Zagar Khan Mirwani
1535–1547Mir Ibrahim Khan Qambrani
1547–1549Mir Gwahram Khan Qambrani
1549–1569Mir Hassan Khan Qambrani
1569–1581Mir Sanjar Khan Qambrani
1581–1590Mir Malook Khan Qambrani
1590–1601Mir Qambar Sani Khan Qambrani
1601–1610Mir Ahmad Khan Qambrani I
1610–1618Mir Suri Khan Qambrani
1618–1629Mir Qaisar Khan Qambrani
1629–1637Mir Ahmad Sani Khan Qambrani II
1637–1647Mir Altaz Khan Qambrani I
1647–1656Mir Kachi Khan Qambrani
1656–1666Mir Altaz Sani Khan Qambrani II
1666–1695Mir Ahmad I Khan Qambrani III
1695–1697Mir Mehrab Khan Ahmadzai I
1697–1714Mir Samandar Khan Ahmadzai
1714–1716Mir Ahmad II Khan Ahmadzai
1716–1731Mir Abdullah Khan Ahmadzai
1731–1749Mir Muhabbat Khan Ahmadzai
1749–1794Mir Muhammad Nasir Khan I Ahmadzai
1794–1817Mir Mahmud Khan I Ahmadzai
1817–13 November 1839Mir Mehrab Khan Ahmadzai II
1839–1841Mir Shah Nawaz Khan Ahmadzai
1841–1857Mir Nasir Khan II Ahmadzai
1857–March 1863Mir Khudadad Khan Ahmadzai ; during his rule, there were seven major and many minor rebellions.
March 1863–May 1864Mir Sherdil Khan Ahmadzai
May 1864–15 August 1893Mir Khudadad Khan
10 November 1893 – 3 November 1931Mir Mahmud Khan II Ahmadzai
3 November 1931 – 10 September 1933Mir Mohammad Azam Jan Khan Ahmadzai
10 September 1933 – 14 October 1955Mir Ahmad Yar Khan Ahmadzai ;
declared independent on 5 August 1947; agreed to accede to Pakistan on 30 March 1948
14 October 1955State of Kalat merged into One Unit of West Pakistan
20 June 1958 – 1979Mir Ahmad Yar Khan Ahmadzai
1979–1998Mir Dawood Jan Ahmadzai
1998–2006Mir Agha Sulaiman Jan Ahmadzai
2006–presentPrince Mir Mohammad Khan Ahmadzai