Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) has alleged that Taqleen Baloch, a Baloch student, was forcibly taken into custody in Bahawalpur, Punjab province, Pakistan, on 29 October 2026 and transferred to an undisclosed location — the latest in a documented surge of enforced disappearances targeting Baloch civilians across the country.

The Latest Incident

According to VBMP, Taqleen Baloch was allegedly detained in front of Japan Town on Haji Pur Road, Bahawalpur, at 3 PM on 29 October 2026. The organisation has demanded his immediate recovery. In a post on X, VBMP stated: 'VBMP has expressed concern over the enforced disappearance of Baloch student Taqleen Baloch and demanded their immediate recovery. Taqleen Baloch was allegedly taken into custody in front of Japan Town on Haji Pur Road, Bahawalpur, at 3 PM on October 29, 2026, and then transferred to an undisclosed location.'

This comes as VBMP's protest camp against enforced disappearances outside the Quetta Press Club entered its 6,405th consecutive day — a figure that underscores the scale and longevity of the crisis. The organisation also expressed deep concern over the continued non-recovery of Zafar Baloch, Sohail Ahmed, and Fasihullah.

Scale of the Crisis: 507 Disappearances in Six Months

The fresh allegation mirrors a broader pattern documented by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). According to BYC's Human Rights Department report, a total of 507 individuals were subjected to enforced disappearance by Pakistani state authorities, security agencies, and state-backed death squads in Balochistan during the first six months of 2026.

Of these, 150 were released after short-term detention, 32 were killed while in custody, and 303 remain missing with no information shared with their families. Among the victims were 44 minors and over 20 women. Quetta and Kech recorded the highest number of documented disappearances.

Forces Accused in BYC Report

The BYC linked the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) to 180 cases, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) to 93 cases, the army to 42 cases, and state-backed death squads to 20 documented cases. Several other cases reportedly involved combined operations by intelligence agencies, CTD, police, and death squads.

Separately, the BYC's Human Rights Department documented 150 killings of Baloch civilians — including 15 minors — in the first half of 2026. Panjgur recorded the highest number of killings, followed by Kech and Gwadar. State-backed death squads were cited as the major perpetrators, followed by the FC and the army, according to the BYC.

Activists in Detention, Denied Medical Care

The BYC has also raised alarm over the condition of detained Baloch activists Mahrang Baloch and Bebarg Baloch — the latter a specially-abled person — both of whom have reportedly been held since March last year. The BYC alleged that Pakistani authorities have repeatedly denied them access to basic medical care at the behest of intelligence agencies.

The BYC has accused Pakistani authorities of using various methods to torture and intimidate Baloch activists, allegations that the Pakistani government has not publicly addressed in the documents reviewed.

Context and What to Watch

The enforced disappearances in Balochistan have drawn repeated condemnation from international human rights bodies, though Pakistan's federal government has consistently denied systematic involvement. With VBMP's protest now past its 6,400th day and fresh cases continuing to emerge, pressure on Islamabad from regional and global rights groups is likely to intensify. Independent verification of these figures remains difficult given restricted access to Balochistan for journalists and observers.