Balochistan: 10 civilians forcibly disappeared in Pakistani forces' raids
Synopsis
Ten civilians vanished across Balochistan in a single week as Pakistani forces swept Nushki, Khuzdar and Surab — even as armed kidnappers struck Kech, abducting a businessman's minor son for ransom. The twin pattern of state detentions and ransom abductions points to a province sliding deeper into a security vacuum.
Key Takeaways
At least 10 civilians were forcibly disappeared in Balochistan between 25 May and 2 June , reports say.
Seven men were detained in a Pakistani military operation in Killi Mengal , Nushki , involving around 20 vehicles .
The Frontier Corps reportedly detained two farmers, Ubaidullah and Khuda Bakhsh , in Surab .
Shopkeeper Saifur Rehman , 25, was allegedly taken by CTD and MI personnel in Khuzdar on 25 May .
In Kech , businessman Abdul Haleem's minor son was abducted at gunpoint on 29 May , with a ransom reportedly demanded.
At least 10 civilians were forcibly disappeared across Balochistan following a series of raids by Pakistani security forces in the districts of Nushki, Khuzdar, and Surab, local media reported on Tuesday, 2 June. The detentions, carried out between 25 May and 2 June, have intensified alarm over a fresh spike in enforced disappearances in the restive province.
Key Developments in Nushki
According to a report by The Balochistan Post, Pakistani armed forces launched a large-scale search operation in the Killi Mengal area of Nushki on Monday morning. Residents said roughly 20 military vehicles cordoned off the locality before conducting house-to-house searches.
Seven men were reportedly detained and shifted to undisclosed locations. The detainees were identified as Shah Khalid, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Niaz, Noor Mohammad, Mohammad Arif, Alauddin, and Abdul Basit.
Detentions in Surab and Khuzdar
In a separate incident the same day, Pakistan's Frontier Corps (FC) reportedly detained two farmers, Ubaidullah and Khuda Bakhsh, during a house raid in the Hajika area of Surab. Their families said they have had no information about their whereabouts since.
In the Doctor Colony area of Khuzdar, a 25-year-old shopkeeper identified as Saifur Rehman was taken into custody on the night of 25 May. His relatives have accused personnel of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and Military Intelligence (MI) of carrying out the detention before moving him to an undisclosed site.
Surge in Abductions in Kech
Separately, two abductions in Balochistan's Kech district have deepened concerns over rising kidnappings in the Makran region. According to reports, armed men on motorcycles allegedly abducted Khalil Haleem, the minor son of businessman Abdul Haleem, from the Rodban area of Tump tehsil at gunpoint on 29 May.
Sources cited by The Balochistan Post said the abductors later demanded a substantial ransom, though neither the family nor authorities have publicly confirmed the amount. On the evening of 30 May, businessman Aqeel Akbar was allegedly abducted by armed men from Bilnagor in the Dasht area.
Why It Matters
Enforced disappearances have remained a persistent grievance in Balochistan, with rights groups long accusing Pakistani security agencies of operating outside judicial oversight. Critics argue that the parallel rise in ransom-driven abductions points to a broader collapse of policing in the province's interior.
With protests by families of the missing recurring in Quetta and Islamabad, the latest wave of detentions is likely to draw fresh scrutiny from human rights observers in the days ahead.
Point of View
Even as the absence of judicial accountability lets the pattern repeat. The Makran kidnappings expose a second failure: a security apparatus consumed by counter-insurgency optics has visibly ceded ground on basic policing. Until Islamabad permits independent scrutiny of detentions, the province's trust deficit will keep widening.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Balochistan on 2 June?
Local media reported that at least 10 civilians were forcibly disappeared across Balochistan following raids by Pakistani security forces in Nushki, Khuzdar and Surab. Seven men were detained in a single sweep in the Killi Mengal area of Nushki.
Who carried out the detentions in Khuzdar?
The family of 25-year-old shopkeeper Saifur Rehman alleged that personnel from Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and Military Intelligence (MI) detained him on the night of 25 May. He was reportedly shifted to an undisclosed location.
What is happening in the Kech district?
Kech, in the Makran region, has seen a fresh surge in kidnappings. The minor son of businessman Abdul Haleem was abducted at gunpoint on 29 May, and businessman Aqeel Akbar was reportedly taken by armed men on 30 May.
Why are enforced disappearances a major issue in Balochistan?
Rights groups have for years accused Pakistani security agencies of detaining civilians without judicial process in Balochistan. Families of the missing have staged repeated protests in Quetta and Islamabad demanding accountability and the return of their relatives.
