Have Three Baloch Youths Been Forcibly Disappeared by Pakistani Forces?

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Have Three Baloch Youths Been Forcibly Disappeared by Pakistani Forces?

Synopsis

In a troubling incident reported on October 18, three Baloch students were forcibly taken by Pakistani security forces, amid rising concerns of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. This situation raises serious human rights issues, demanding immediate attention and action.

Key Takeaways

  • Three Baloch students have been forcibly disappeared, raising serious human rights concerns.
  • Enforced disappearances are a growing trend in Balochistan.
  • Human rights organizations are demanding immediate action from authorities.
  • The military operations in Khuzdar district are causing civilian casualties.
  • The situation in Balochistan represents a humanitarian crisis.

Quetta, Oct 18 (NationPress) A prominent human rights organization reported that a minimum of three Baloch students have been forcibly taken by the Pakistani security forces in Balochistan. This latest incident highlights a disturbing trend of ongoing persecution characterized by a rise in enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture throughout the province.

The Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department (Paank) informed that Wahab Baloch, a resident of Sar Dasht in the Pasni region, and Nazeer Baloch, from the Isplinji area of Mastung, were forcibly apprehended by security forces during the night of October 16 to 17.

Wahab, a student at the Faculty of Sciences, relocated to Quetta for enhanced educational prospects, while Nazeer is a first-semester nursing student at the Nursing College in Civil Hospital Quetta.

“There is a troubling pattern where the state authorities of Pakistan have escalated their attacks on Baloch students through the heinous act of enforced disappearances. Almost daily, Balochistan witnesses reports of youths, predominantly students, being unlawfully detained by security forces without their families being informed of their location,” Paank expressed.

Paank condemned these “forced and unlawful arrests” and called for the immediate, unconditional, and safe return of the two Baloch students.

In another instance of enforced disappearance, the human rights organization Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) reported that Asad Baloch, a 26-year-old student, was abducted from Hudda in Quetta by personnel from Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department on October 16. His whereabouts remain unknown, and a demand for his immediate release has been issued, alongside a call to end enforced disappearances in Balochistan.

On the previous Friday, the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) strongly condemned the ongoing military operations in the Zehri region of Khuzdar district, where indiscriminate drone and airstrikes in the last month have reportedly killed and injured numerous civilians, including women and children.

“We are deeply troubled by the continuous military aggression and widespread human rights violations in the area. Civilians must not be targeted. The ongoing siege, unlawful killings, curfews, and deliberate deprivation of essential supplies imposed on the residents of Zehri constitute collective punishment and are leading to a deteriorating humanitarian crisis,” stated the HRCB.

Point of View

We stand firmly in support of the rights of all individuals, including the Baloch community. The ongoing pattern of enforced disappearances and human rights violations is unacceptable and warrants immediate attention from both national and international bodies to ensure accountability and justice.
NationPress
18/10/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What are enforced disappearances?
Enforced disappearances refer to the abduction of individuals by state officials or their agents, followed by the refusal to acknowledge their fate or whereabouts. This severe violation of human rights often leads to torture and extrajudicial killings.
Who reported the forced disappearances of Baloch students?
A prominent human rights organization, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, reported the forced disappearances of the Baloch students.
What actions have been taken to address these disappearances?
Human rights organizations, including the Baloch Voice for Justice and the Human Rights Council of Balochistan, have condemned these acts and are calling for the immediate release of the detained individuals.
What is the current situation in Balochistan regarding human rights?
Balochistan is facing a significant human rights crisis, characterized by enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and ongoing military operations that have resulted in civilian casualties.
How can individuals support the cause of human rights in Balochistan?
Individuals can support the cause by raising awareness, advocating for the rights of the Baloch people, and urging national and international bodies to take action against human rights violations.
Nation Press