Balochistan [Pakistan], January 11–12 (ANI): Pakistan is facing renewed domestic and international scrutiny following fresh allegations of enforced disappearances, the killing of a minor, and a sharp escalation in militant violence across Balochistan, according to multiple reports and statements from Baloch rights groups and armed organisations.
Human rights defenders have reported a new surge of enforced disappearances across Balochistan, Karachi, and adjoining regions, with at least nine Baloch citizens allegedly taken into custody by Pakistani security agencies in recent weeks. According to The Balochistan Post, individuals were reportedly detained without warrants, held at undisclosed locations, and never presented before courts.
Sources said Abdullah, son of Iqbal, was taken from Mand in Kech district and moved to an unknown facility. In Karachi, 24-year-old student Hamdan, son of Muhammad Ali, was allegedly detained by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officials in the Golimar area, with no subsequent legal proceedings or public acknowledgement of his detention.
Earlier incidents include the November 2, 2025, early-morning raids in Bhatta Colony during which Dawood Baloch, Usman Baloch, and Hakeem Majeed Baloch were allegedly picked up by Military Intelligence and CTD personnel. Their whereabouts remain unknown. Other reported cases include the detention of religious instructor Zubair from Quetta’s Lak Pass area on November 20; the abduction of labourer Muhammad Iqbal Marri outside the Rakhni Sessions Court in Barkhan on December 26; and the alleged arrest of 21-year-old herder Saeed Ahmed during a raid in Mastung on December 11. Families say none of the detainees have resurfaced.
Additionally, 17-year-old student Jamal Murad was reportedly apprehended in Gwadar on January 2 by CTD and Military Intelligence operatives, after which he disappeared.
The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) continued its long-running protest camp outside the Quetta Press Club, marking its 6,052nd day. Families of the disappeared, including relatives of Nasreena Baloch—allegedly detained during a raid in Hub Chowki—joined the demonstration. Her family claimed police refused to register an FIR, while the Hub Press Club was reportedly locked to prevent a press briefing.
VBMP Chairman Nasrullah Baloch accused state institutions of weaponising national security laws to intensify enforced disappearances, including targeting Baloch women. He alleged that detainees are denied legal rights, courts are bypassed, and recent legislation shields extrajudicial actions. He called on national and international bodies to intervene and secure the release of all missing persons.
Amid these allegations, Baloch rights organisations also reported the killing of a minor and further enforced disappearances. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) stated that 14-year-old Raahi Assa, son of Muhammad Assa, was shot dead in a targeted attack in the main bazaar of Hoshap, Kech. The group alleged that armed men linked to Military Intelligence carried out the killing, describing it as a serious violation of international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Separately, Paank—the human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement—reported the enforced disappearance of six Baloch men from Jiwani (Panwan) between December 25, 2025, and January 5, 2026. The group alleged that Frontier Corps, Military Intelligence, and Inter-Services Intelligence personnel were involved. One individual was reportedly taken from an ISI office in Gwadar. Paank demanded immediate disclosure of the men’s whereabouts and their production before a court of law.
Pakistani authorities have not issued an official response to these specific allegations.
Meanwhile, the security situation in Balochistan continues to deteriorate. The Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS), an armed alliance, released its 2025 operational review, claiming responsibility for 174 attacks across the province. According to The Balochistan Post, BRAS said its fighters killed 167 Pakistani military and intelligence personnel and wounded 95 others during the year. The group also claimed to have taken 26 people, including intelligence officials, into custody.
BRAS stated it carried out 35 explosions, 14 raids, 35 cordon-and-search operations, and attacks on 15 infrastructure sites, destroying 30 vehicles and seizing 51 weapons. It further claimed that in August 2025, its fighters took control of Zehri town in Khuzdar for more than a month, during which they allegedly targeted Pakistani forces and addressed public gatherings.
Other armed groups also released annual figures. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed it carried out 521 attacks in 2025, alleging over 1,060 Pakistani security personnel were killed and more than 556 injured. The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) reported 581 attacks, claiming 647 personnel killed and 282 injured. The Baloch Republican Guards (BRG) said it conducted 88 attacks across Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab, targeting military and infrastructure assets.
Together, the reports highlight an escalating cycle of alleged human rights abuses, militant violence, and deepening instability in Balochistan, drawing growing attention from rights groups and raising concerns over accountability, civilian protection, and the rule of law in the province. (ANI)
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