Balochistan enforced disappearances: 3 more civilians allegedly taken by Pakistani forces
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Three more civilians have allegedly been forcibly disappeared by Pakistani security forces in Balochistan, according to a statement released by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on 27 July. The allegations, which Pakistani authorities have not publicly addressed, add to a growing body of documented cases that rights groups say constitute a systematic pattern of enforced disappearances across the province.
The Three Alleged Cases
Aziz Baloch, 15, a rickshaw driver, was allegedly abducted from Quetta's Saryab Road on 23 July. The BYC alleged that personnel from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) were responsible for the abduction.
Khalil Ahmed, 30, a labourer, was allegedly taken from his home in Nigar, Surab, on 12 July at 5 pm local time. The BYC alleged that Pakistan's Frontier Corps (FC) and Army personnel carried out the abduction. On the same date and in the same locality, Gull Muhammad, 27, also a labourer, was allegedly abducted from his home, with the BYC again naming the FC/Army as the alleged perpetrators.
The Mastung Incident That Preceded the Allegations
The latest disclosures follow a widely condemned incident on 21 July in the Killi Kongarh area of Mastung district, where security forces allegedly raided a house and abducted six members of a single family. The victims were identified as Bibi Rafia, 33; her three children aged three months, four years, and six years; her brother Muhammad Arif, 40; and her niece Bibi Nida, 18.
The incident drew sharp condemnation from the Baloch Women Forum (BWF), which described it as 'not just a tragedy for one family but a link in this broader chain of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.'
Rights Groups Warn of Escalating Pattern
The BWF, which raised the alarm last week, said the practice of enforced disappearances has become 'one of the most alarming human rights issues of the 21st century.' The forum specifically highlighted the gravity of disappearing women and children, noting that international law explicitly recognises both as categories warranting special protection.
'When it comes to a mother, the situation becomes even more serious, because the disappearance of a mother is not merely the disappearance of an individual — it plunges the entire family, especially minor children, into severe psychological, economic, and social crises,' the BWF stated. 'If even infants or minor children are deprived of their freedom, the matter takes on an even more grave nature, which has now assumed an even more serious form in Balochistan today.'
The forum added: 'Numerous families have been waiting for years for the return of their loved ones; numerous victims have passed away while waiting for their loved ones; yet this policy of coercion shows no signs of ending.'
Broader Context and What Comes Next
Enforced disappearances in Balochistan have been documented by multiple international human rights organisations over the past two decades. Critics argue that Pakistani state institutions — including the military and intelligence apparatus — have used the practice as a counter-insurgency tool, allegations the Pakistani government has consistently denied. The BYC and BWF have both called on international human rights bodies to intervene and hold the authorities accountable. With incidents reportedly continuing unabated, pressure on international forums is expected to mount in the weeks ahead.