Quetta, Jan 13 (NationPress) A prominent human rights organization raised alarming concerns on Tuesday regarding the significant uptick in gender-based human rights abuses throughout Balochistan in 2025. They asserted that the enforced disappearances of Baloch women by Pakistani forces indicate a larger, systematic strategy of oppression and collective punishment.

In its detailed report titled 'Enforced Disappearances of Baloch Women in 2025: Collective Punishment and Gendered Human Rights Violations in Balochistan', the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) highlighted that while historically Baloch men have been the primary victims of enforced disappearances, 2025 saw a troubling rise in the direct targeting of women and girls across the region.

“In 2025 alone, at least 12 cases of enforced disappearances involving women and girls were reported across various districts of Balochistan. These cases demonstrate a continuous pattern of unlawful detainment executed without legal warrants, judicial oversight, or any legal basis, followed by denial of custody and refusal to reveal the fate or location of the victims. In several cases, multiple family members were targeted simultaneously, compounding the trauma at the family level,” the report elaborated.

The BYC emphasized that these occurrences are part of a larger context of human rights violations carried out under the pretext of security operations, counter-insurgency efforts, and militarized governance, where Baloch women are increasingly becoming direct targets of state violence.

“The enforced disappearance of women is a serious violation of essential human rights, producing repercussions that extend beyond the individual victim. It disrupts families, fractures community bonds, and fosters an environment of fear, silence, and social disintegration. Frequently, women are targeted to apply pressure on male relatives or entire families, showcasing a distinctly gendered form of repression,” the rights organization stated.

The report indicated that enforced disappearances are often accompanied by repeated raids, threats, and family intimidation by Pakistani security forces.

“Residences were searched multiple times, and property was either damaged or confiscated, indicating punitive actions that extend beyond the individual victim. Several incidents involved the simultaneous targeting of numerous family members, exacerbating trauma and destabilizing entire households, especially affecting women, children, and elderly relatives,” it added.

The BYC urged international human rights entities to promptly monitor the situation, asserting that these practices violate constitutional protections, breach international law, and cause lasting harm to families and communities.