The Impact of Afghanistan's Military Occupation on Relations between Pakistan and Its Tribes with an Emphasis on the Nationalism of Baloch Ethnic Group

The revival of Baloch nationalist movement in Pakistan since 2004 has become a factor threatening Pakistan's internal security and the national security of its neighbors including Iran. Therefore, the explanation of this phenomenon is of special importance. This article aims at showing the impact of Afghanistan's military occupation on relations between the Pakistani government and Baloch and Pashtun ethnic groups living in Pakistan. It means that here, we discuss regional interactions and their impact on Pakistan's internal affairs. The findings of this article show that internal disputes and ethnic movements within a country are not only influenced by its domestic policy, but also are determined by the developments of neighboring countries. The main hypothesis of this article is that Afghanistan's military occupation and Pakistan's resorting to fighting with Taliban forces, have provided a favorable ground for dispute between tribes and Pakistan's central government and in particular, the revival of Baloch nationalist movement in Pakistan.