In his presentation, Maxwell Downman contended that it was

the British, who despite the 1876 Treaty with Kalat, constantly undermined the position of the Khan of Kalat, and discouraged Pakistan from recognising Kalat's status as a sovereign independent State. Similarly in his remarks, Prof Badal Khan provided instances from Balochistan's history when the British clearly recognised its independence. Jamal Nasser Baloch, who represented Hyrbyair Marri, leader of the Free Baloch Movement, maintained that the sanctity of the Balochistan Accession Treaty of 1948 was questionable, since it was signed by the then Khan under duress.

There was general agreement among the panellists that the then Khan of Kalat agreed to the accession of Balochistan to Pakistan in 1948 under pressure, and as a result of manipulation by the British government, in conjunction with the Pakistani government.

The seminar was attended, among others, by Members of the British Parliament, including Nigel Huddleston MP and Chairman of The Democracy Forum, academics, diplomats from various embassies including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, media representatives and Baloch nationalists.

Source: The democracy forum

Media Contact The Democracy Forum Name of contact: Tom Deegan Landline: +44-

02088458828 Email: thedemocracyforum@hotmail.co.uk.

Source: The democracy forum. PRN AKG TR

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(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)