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“Pakistan Forces Raid Balochistan, Over 50 Reported Missing”

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Widespread Raids Across Balochistan

Pakistani forces have intensified operations across Balochistan, with reports indicating that over 50 individuals have been forcibly disappeared. The raids have targeted areas including Turbat, Dera Bugti, Sui, Barkhan, and Kalat. According to The Balochistan Post, dozens of detentions have occurred in the wake of these operations, raising alarm among local communities and human rights organizations.

In Turbat, the latest raid unfolded on Thursday morning. Pakistani forces stormed a residential neighborhood, detaining multiple individuals. Among those taken were Zafar, son of Mohammad Rahim; Rahim Jan, son of Zafar; and Mohammad Kareem, son of Bahram. Five other individuals staying at Zafar’s guesthouse were also abducted, with only one, Jabbar, identified so far.

Targeted Abductions in Dera Bugti

In Dera Bugti, two individuals were taken on Wednesday night during separate raids. Those forcibly disappeared include Dangla, son of Haji Moj Bugti, abducted from Mohammad Colony, and Pir Mohammad, son of Pano Bugti, along with Ismail, son of Lalu Bugti.

This marks the third forced disappearance of Pir Mohammad, who has previously endured severe torture during his earlier detentions. His repeated targeting underscores the ongoing risks faced by individuals previously in conflict with Pakistani forces. The situation has amplified fears about the safety and treatment of detainees, especially those with a history of detention.

Abductions Spread to Barkhan and Kalat

In Barkhan, Rashid Ahmad Khetran, son of Master Gul Mohammad Jan Bughio, was forcibly disappeared on November 27 while traveling from Dera Ghazi Khan to Barkhan. His whereabouts remain unknown, adding to the growing tally of missing persons in the region.

Meanwhile, Kalat’s Iskalku area has witnessed a two-day siege by security forces, during which over 40 individuals have reportedly been detained. Among them is Syed Hussain Shah, father of another missing person, Syed Akhtar Shah. Local residents have reported harassment, home raids, and restrictions on movement, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.

With network disruptions in place, information about those detained remains scarce. These measures have further hindered communication and documentation of the unfolding crisis.

Growing Calls for Intervention

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee has appealed to human rights organizations for urgent intervention to secure the release of those forcibly disappeared. The ongoing operations, coupled with limited transparency and accountability, have intensified demands for justice.

Continued Protests by VBMP

The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), a prominent human rights group advocating against enforced disappearances, marked its 5650th consecutive day of protest in Quetta. The group has been tirelessly campaigning for the safe release of thousands of Baloch individuals who remain missing.

Among the visitors to the VBMP protest camp was the elderly mother of Rashid Hussain Baloch, who expressed solidarity with the families of the missing. Speaking at the camp, she highlighted her years-long struggle for justice and her son’s safe return. “The institutions of this country are unwilling to deliver justice as per the constitution,” she lamented, calling on human rights organizations to amplify their voices for the missing.

A Humanitarian Crisis in the Making

As enforced disappearances continue across Balochistan, the lack of accountability from authorities and the suppression of information through network shutdowns have left families in anguish. The repeated targeting of individuals and widespread detentions reflect a deepening humanitarian crisis in the region.

Human rights groups, both local and international, face mounting pressure to address the situation and advocate for accountability, justice, and the safe return of the disappeared individuals. Without immediate intervention, the cycle of abductions and fear is likely to persist, leaving communities in turmoil.

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