Three young Baloch men have reportedly been forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces in Balochistan’s Kech district, according to Paank, the human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement (BNM).
The men—Attaullah, son of Noor Bakhsh, Yasir Baloch, son of Hameedullah, and Bilal Imam, son of Imam Bakhsh—were reportedly detained by Pakistani forces between October 8 and 13 in Turbat, Kech district and their whereabouts remain unknown.
These disappearances add to the growing number of enforced disappearance cases in the region. So far in October, 21 individuals have been reported missing across Balochistan. While four of the missing individuals have since been released, 17 remain unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) condemned the recent surge in enforced disappearances, particularly targeting Baloch youth.
In a statement, the BYC claimed that more than half a dozen Baloch youth have been forcibly disappeared in recent days by Pakistani forces, including the Frontier Corps (FC) and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
The BYC accused Pakistani authorities of retaliating against Baloch youth in the wake of security failures in the region. “The State vindictively targets Baloch youth after its security failures,” the statement read, urging the Baloch people to remain united in resistance against enforced disappearances.
The BYC also highlighted the trauma faced by the families of the disappeared, who live in constant fear that their loved ones may fall victim to ‘fake’ encounters.