ENGLISH: Why Do Pashtun Nationalist Parties Fail in Balochistan? Analyzing Structural, Ethnic, and Political Barriers

Abstract

This study investigates the recurring failures of Pashtun nationalist parties in Balochistan despite the region’s sizeable Pashtun population. Through a comprehensive analysis of historical context, electoral trends, and structural challenges, the paper explores why parties like the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) and Awami National Party (ANP) struggle to maintain political influence. It identifies a combination of institutional barriers, such as centralization of power and flawed electoral systems, alongside ethnic fragmentation, shifting demographics, and political co-optation. Case studies of PKMAP’s rise and fall (2013–2018) highlight how alliances with federal parties and leadership disconnection from grassroots voters eroded public trust. A comparative lens contrasts this decline with the resilience of Baloch nationalist groups and the relative success of Pashtun parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The paper concludes with reform-oriented recommendations, emphasizing internal party democratization, youth engagement, and strategic alliances, aiming to revitalize Pashtun nationalist politics in Balochistan’s evolving political landscape.