Khanate of Kalat

Kalat
Princely state of Pakistan
1666–14 October 1955
Flag
Map of Pakistan with Kalat highlighted
Capital		Kalat
History
-	Established	1666
-	Disestablished	14 October 1955
Area		91,909 km2 (35,486 sq mi)
Government of Balochistan

This article is part of the series
Former administrative units of Pakistan
Original provinces Baluchistan East Bengal Federal Capital Territory North-West Frontier Province Sind West Punjab
Princely states Amb Bahawalpur Chitral Dir Hunza Kalat Khairpur Kharan Las Bela Makran Nagar Phulra Swat
One-unit provinces East Pakistan West Pakistan
Other subdivisions Gilgit Agency Trans-Karakoram Tract
v t e

The Khanate of Kalat (Balochi: قلات) was a princely state that existed from 1666 to 1955 in the centre of the modern-day province of Balochistan, Pakistan. In the 19th and 20th centuries, until August 1947, it was a self-governing state in a subsidiary alliance with British India, then was fully independent until March 1948, when its Khan acceded his state to the new Dominion of Pakistan. It remained a Princely state of Pakistan until 1955, when it was incorporated into Pakistan.

The state capital was the town of Kalat.

Geography

The Khanate of Kalat occupied the central part of the territory of modern-day Balochistan province in Pakistan.

The principal mountains are the Central Brahui, Kirthar, Pab, Siahan, Central Makran and Makran Coast Ranges, which descend in elevation from about 10,000 to 1,200 feet (370 m). 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 in Pakistan and Chahbahar, Bandar Abbas in Iran.

History

The Khanate of Kalat was founded in 1666. The Khanate reached at its peak during the period of Naseer Khan I, 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 15 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.

Rulers of Kalat

The rulers of Kalat held the title of Wali originally but in 1739 also took the title (Begler Begi) Khan usually shortened to Khan. The last Khan of Kalat (Urdu: خان قلات‎) had the privilege of being the President of the Council of Rulers for the Baluchistan States Union.

See also

• Baluchistan (Chief Commissioner's Province)
• Makran
• Las Bela
• Kharan
• Kalat State National Party
• Balochistan region
• List of Indian Princely States

References

External links

• Swidler, N. (1972) "The Development of the Kalat Khanate" Journal of Asian and African Studies 7: pp. 115–21
• Swidler, N. (1992). Kalat: The Political Economy of a Tribal Chiefdom. American Ethnologist, 19(3), 553-570
• Kalat District - Planning and Development Department of Balochistan Government
• Genealogy of the Khans of Kalat

Coordinates: 29°01′33″N 66°35′24″E / 29.02583°N 66.59000°E / 29.02583; 66.59000