The Baloch people have a rich and complex history. Hidden in their past are strong ties to the ancient Ashkani and Kushani tribes. These old connections have helped shape who the Baloch are today. From how they live to the stories they tell, the influence of these ancient tribes can still be seen. Understanding this link helps us know how the Baloch nation came to be and why it is unique. The story of how the Baloch people are connected to the ancient Ashkani and Kushani tribes is an exciting part of Central Asian history.
A long time ago, the Ashkanian and Kushan families ruled a large area called Balochistan, including Makran. This lasted for several hundred years and changed how people lived and thought in the region. When the Ashkani family was in charge, there was often fighting and people rebelling in many areas. But interestingly, in the places where Baloch tribes lived, things were mostly peaceful. This makes us wonder if the Baloch people had a special relationship with these rulers.
Later, when the Kushans took over, they also found that areas where Baloch people lived were calmer than other places they ruled. This might mean that the Baloch tribes agreed with these rulers or were primarily allowed to take care of themselves.
One of the most puzzling things about the Ashkani and Kushani tribes is that they seem to have vanished from history books when a new group called the Sassanid Empire came to power in Persia. This doesn’t mean these tribes died out. It likely means they weren’t as important politically anymore, so people stopped writing about them as much.
Even though we no longer see the Ashkani and Kushani names in history books, the Baloch people didn’t disappear. Today, many Baloch people are doing important jobs in different fields, including in the government of modern Balochistan. This shows how the Baloch people have adapted and survived many changes. There are several reasons why some people think the Ashkani and Kushani rulers might have been Baloch.
Baloch people living in different places like Punjab, Afghanistan, and Iran all say they’re Baloch. This shared feeling of their identity might come from an ancient connection.
History tells us that the Ashkani and Kushani tribes came from northern Baloch lands. These areas, including South Khorasan and Sistan, have been home to Baloch people for a long time.
The Ashkanians didn’t like a religion called Zoroastrianism, which was different from what most people around them believed. This might mean they came from a different background, possibly Baloch.
People who study history have different ideas about what happened to the Ashkani people when they stopped being rulers. Some think they moved eastward because they felt more at home or because it was an excellent place to defend themselves against new rulers. Others believe they went back to live with other Baloch people, seeking safety among their kind.
Throughout history, the Baloch people have shown that they value their independence and don’t like being controlled by outsiders. They fought against Arab invaders during the early days of Islam. They resisted Muslim rulers like Mahmud Ghaznavi and Masood Ghaznavi, even though they shared the same religion. They stayed peaceful when the Ashkani and Kushani were in charge, which might mean they felt these rulers were more like them.
Some researchers, like Mir Gul Khan Naseer and Nader Qambrani, think there might be a connection between the Brahui tribes of Balochistan and the ancient Kushans. They found some old writing from Kushan, which had words that sounded much like the Brahui language. This is interesting, but we need to study it more.
Even though we can’t find many old buildings or monuments from the Ashkani and Kushani times in Balochistan, their legacy lives on through the Baloch people.
The Ashkani tribe is still a critical Baloch group, with many members living in different parts of Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab.
Some Baloch and Brahui-speaking tribes still use the Kushani name, which shows a connection to this ancient history.
It’s hard for researchers to learn more about Balochistan’s Ashkani and Kushani periods because we only have a few old objects or writings from that time. Only a few people have dug for ancient objects in some parts of Balochistan. Old things might have been destroyed or lost over time. Maybe the Baloch areas were somewhat independent, so the rulers didn’t build many immense structures there.
The connection between the Baloch people and the Ashkani and Kushani rulers is like a giant puzzle we’re still trying to solve. While we have some clues, we need to do more research to understand how they were connected.
The story of how the Ashkani and Kushani tribes are linked to the Baloch people shows us how complicated Central Asian history is. While we still have many questions, the fact that Baloch people are still around and still use some of these ancient tribal names shows how strong their culture is.
As we keep studying, we might learn new things about this fascinating time in history. This helps us understand the past and why modern Balochistan and its people are the way they are today.
Article written by Faryal Baloch, an independent researcher.
