The Baloch people are a Western Iranic ethnic group who are native to the Balochistan region of South and Western Asia, encompassing the countries of Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. They speak the Balochi language and follow Sunni Islam. They are estimated to be about five million in population.

The Baloch people trace their origins to the ancient Iranian tribes that lived in the area known as Greater Khorasan. The early history of the Baloch people is mostly unknown. However, it is known that they were a predominantly pastoralist people who traveled over the Iranian plateau and the Indian subcontinent.

The Baloch people were mentioned in Arabic chronicles of the 10th century CE¹. They were also mentioned in the Gwalior inscription of the Gurjara-Pratihara ruler Mihira Bhoja (r. 836 — 885), who repelled a powerful army of Valacha Mlecchas, translated as “Baluch foreigners” by D. R. Bhandarkar¹. The army in question is that of the Umayyad Caliphate after the conquest of Sindh.

The Baloch people have a long history of resistance and rebellion against foreign invaders and rulers. They fought against the Mongols, the Safavids, the Mughals, the British, and the modern states of Pakistan and Iran. The Baloch people have also maintained their own tribal organization and culture, which is best preserved among those inhabiting the Sulaiman Mountains.

The Baloch people are divided into two groups, the Sulaimani and the Makrani, separated from each other by a compact block of Brahui tribes. The Sulaimani are mainly found in Pakistan and Afghanistan, while the Makrani are mainly found in Iran and Oman¹. The Baloch people have also migrated to other regions, such as Central Asia and the Arabian Peninsula.

The Baloch people are known for their skills in carpet making and embroidery. They also raise camels, cattle, sheep, and goats. Their agricultural methods are primitive. They live in mud or stone huts or temporary enclosures of rough stone walls covered with matting.