New Delhi: Contrary to the Pakistani army’s claims of targeted operations against Baloch militants and assurances of civilian safety, the reality presents a starkly different picture. Under the guise of combating militancy, Pakistani forces have engaged in the killings and enforced disappearances of thousands of civilians.
The recent protests in Quetta on September 22, organised by Noor Alam Marri’s family with the support of the Voice of Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), have brought renewed attention to the alarming rise in forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan. Noor Alam Marri, a resident of the region, vanished seven years ago during a military operation at his home in Harnai, and his whereabouts remain unknown. The demonstrations not only demanded Marri’s recovery but also called for an end to the ongoing crisis of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings that have plagued Balochistan.
On August 2, 2024, another tragic incident underscored this dire situation: Hamdan Baloch, a young man, was killed, and two others were severely injured during a peaceful sit-in protest in Nushki organised by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee. This violence erupted when the Frontier Corps (FC), a paramilitary force operating in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, opened fire indiscriminately on civilians participating in the protest. Such events are symptomatic of the systematic state repression carried out by Pakistani authorities in Balochistan.
Forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings have long been entrenched in Balochistan’s flawed justice system—a reality that the Pakistani federal government has persistently ignored. These brutal tactics serve as tools for the military to suppress the growing sentiment of Baloch nationalism. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), in its 2023 annual report, has documented the extensive use of enforced disappearances to quash dissent and pointed to a proliferation of paramilitary checkpoints that instill fear among the local population, particularly in the Makran region. This ongoing oppression is part of a broader strategy employed by Pakistani intelligence and military forces to stifle the rising awareness and resistance against the federal government. This strategy has become increasingly brutal and inhumane since the early 2000s.
According to a report from the Paank Human Rights Organisation of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), thousands of Baloch students have allegedly been targeted, with many disappearing, detained, and tortured in prison cells for indefinite periods. Even upon their release, many victims are left psychologically scarred and subjected to constant monitoring by the Pakistani military and its agencies. Additionally, these agencies have been accused of coercing individuals into forced exile, reducing them to living shadows, or pressuring them to collaborate with the military against their communities, leaving them isolated from society.
The Pakistani military and its agencies have also been reported to engage in indiscriminate gunfire and extreme violence against peaceful protesters and civilians. Such actions frequently result in numerous deaths and injuries, all aimed at quelling any perceived threats to the authority of the military or the federal government.
The repression and torture arising from unchecked military power and extremism, combined with an unaccountable government, have intensified the longstanding resentment in Balochistan toward the Pakistani army and federal government. This animosity is deeply rooted in social, economic, and political issues severely hindering the region’s development. Over the decades, this resentment has manifested in persistent armed rebellions, attacks on Pakistani forces, and significant insurgencies, all of which the Pakistani military has struggled to suppress.
The despotic methods employed by the Pakistani government have fostered widespread injustice and fear among the Baloch people, who now demand the return of their missing loved ones and the fulfillment of their basic needs. A 2024 report by the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances documented 10,078 enforced disappearances in Pakistan since 2011, with Balochistan reporting the second-highest number of cases at 2,752. However, families and human rights organisations suggest that the figures may be even higher. According to Paank, in August 2024 alone, Pakistani forces forcibly abducted 44 individuals in Balochistan, extrajudicially killed 14, and tortured 25 others. Among the victims was a five-year-old girl, Sitara Baloch, who lost her life due to indiscriminate gunfire aimed at civilians, as reported by Paank.
Recent amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) by the Pakistani government have further empowered the military and federal authorities to suppress the Baloch people. These changes come amidst an alarming increase in state repression, including illegal detentions, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. The amendments grant security forces the authority to detain individuals based solely on suspicion of involvement in or intent to commit terrorism without guaranteeing a fair trial or proper judicial procedure.
The ATA’s broad definition of ‘terrorism’ has also led to considerable confusion, lacking clear specificity. This vague terminology opens the door to potential misuse of the law to stifle peaceful protests, political dissent, and freedom of expression under the pretext of combating terrorism or safeguarding national security.
According to Justice Project Pakistan, an analysis by the Research Society for International Law (RSIL) of significant judgments related to the ATA from 1998 to 2013 reveals that the majority of cases registered under the act were not genuine acts of terrorism and often lacked any apparent intent to commit such acts. This underscores the pattern of unlawful detentions and arrests carried out by the Pakistani military and government, all conducted under the guise of national security.
Moreover, incidents of state brutality and repression are reported only minimally on social media and other platforms, which have recently faced significant disruptions due to increased restrictions and controls. The activist organisation, “Voice of Baloch Missing Persons”, estimates that government figures are grossly underreported, suggesting there are approximately 8,000 cases of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. The enactment of regulations under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), combined with heightened government control and censorship, has severely limited the ability to report these incidents that demand governmental action and justice. As a result, reports of state repression and relevant statistics are often found only on smaller websites and data reports from independent institutions, published anonymously, highlighting the severity of the situation.
On September 26, the Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) held a demonstration in front of the United Nations Building in Geneva, demanding UN intervention in response to the atrocities and crimes against humanity committed by the Pakistani army. The BHRC has emphasised that Balochistan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis with no relief in sight. Razzak Baloch, a member of the BHRC, labelled Pakistan a failed state during the protest, condemning the looting of Balochistan’s resources by government authorities. Previously, Mahrang Baloch, a human rights activist leading the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, had also appealed to Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International regarding the grave human rights violations in the country and the heavy militarisation of the region. Such appeals have drawn increased attention from the UN to the ongoing issue of severe human rights violations in Balochistan.
Contrary to the Pakistani army’s claims of targeted operations against Baloch militants and assurances of civilian safety, the reality in Balochistan presents a starkly different picture. Under the guise of combating militancy, Pakistani forces have engaged in the killings and enforced disappearances of thousands of civilians, leaving their families in anguish, still waiting for news. The Pakistani judiciary has also failed to enact meaningful laws to criminalise forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, primarily due to unbalanced power dynamics in the country. Despite multiple international agencies raising alarms about severe violations of fundamental human rights—such as the right to life, justice, and dignity—the Pakistani government has yet to take significant action to provide the Baloch people with any hope for justice or the freedom to live and speak without fear.
Akansha Sinha is currently interning at India Foundation as a Research Intern.