At least 18 Baloch civilians were forcibly disappeared in raids by Pakistani armed forces over the past two weeks in the districts of Kech and Gwadar in Balochistan, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) said on Wednesday.
The group said 11 people were taken from their homes in the Hothabad area of Kech district on Jan. 7, while seven fishermen were picked up in operations in the Panwan Jiwani area of Gwadar between Dec. 25, 2025 and Jan. 7, 2026.
BYC said the raids were part of what it called a pattern of “collective punishment” against Baloch people and said homes were entered forcibly, families intimidated and property damaged.
Those taken in Hothabad were Hasrat Hasil, 20, an air force employee; Kashif Ayuob, 22, a shopkeeper; Riaz Yaqoob, 36, a shopkeeper; Dad Karim, 24; Jalil Ahmed, 22, a driver; Sageer Illahi, 23, a student; Salam, 25, a shopkeeper; Fuzail Rafiq, 22, a student; Siraj Barkat, 20, a student; Riaz Hassan, 32, a labourer in Qatar; and Sajjad Barkat, 22, a labourer in Qatar.
BYC said Riaz Hassan and Sajjad Barkat were released on Jan. 10, while the remaining nine men were still being held and their whereabouts were unknown.
In Panwan Jiwani, BYC said seven fishermen were taken during intensified operations targeting the local fishing community. They were Jahangir, 25; Shamsuddin, 18; Shabbir, 25; Sameed, 25; Rizwan, 26; Asif, 35; and Israj, 22.
BYC said those targeted were civilians whose only apparent “crime” was being Baloch and said the actions violated fundamental human rights and international law.
The group called for the immediate release of those detained and urged national and international rights bodies and the United Nations to take notice of the case.