Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, remains a focal point of severe human rights violations in 2025. Despite international attention, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings continue unabated. The province’s long-standing political unrest has escalated into a humanitarian crisis marked by mass graves, brutal crackdowns, and widespread fear among civilians.
Historical Background
Balochistan’s alienation began in 1948 when Pakistan annexed the Khanate of Kalat. This move was opposed by many Baloch leaders, sowing seeds of resentment. Over decades, insurgencies erupted intermittently. The killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006 intensified conflict. Since then, Pakistan’s counterinsurgency shifted to harsh tactics, including abductions and kill-and-dump operations.
Pattern of Enforced Disappearances
The state security forces routinely abduct activists, students, and ordinary citizens suspected of dissent. Victims are held in secret detention before their mutilated bodies appear on roadsides or in mass graves. Families protesting these disappearances face violent repression. Official reports and human rights organisations confirm this systematic violation.
Mass Graves and Evidence
In 2014, over 100 bodies were found in unmarked mass graves near Khuzdar. These graves symbolize the ongoing genocide. Despite calls for impartial investigations, no credible inquiry has taken place. The discovery shocked the global community but failed to prompt meaningful action.
Civil Resistance and State Crackdown
Baloch women and youth have led protests demanding justice for missing relatives. Large-scale marches in 2023 and 2024 were met with baton charges, water cannons, and mass arrests. Prominent activists like Dr. Mahrang Baloch became symbols of resistance. The state’s violent response has only deepened grievances.
International Response and UN Involvement
The United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances (WGEID) has repeatedly urged Pakistan to criminalise enforced disappearances and investigate abuses. Despite visits and reports since 2012, Pakistan has made little progress. It refuses to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED). UN experts continue to call for accountability and protection of human rights defenders.
Current Situation and Statistics
By 2025, over 10,000 enforced disappearance cases were recorded nationwide, with nearly 3,000 from Balochistan alone. Independent sources suggest the actual figures are higher. The lack of transparency and civilian oversight allows military and intelligence agencies to operate with impunity. The crisis remains unresolved, with families still searching for missing loved ones.
Calls for Action
Human rights groups demand Pakistan take concrete steps – criminalise enforced disappearance, allow unrestricted UN access to recent-train-hijacking/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Balochistan, investigate mass graves, protect families from retaliation, and maintain a public detainee registry. Until these measures are implemented, the cycle of violence and silence will persist.
Questions for UPSC:
- Point out the significance of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) and its impact on global human rights enforcement.
- Critically analyse the role of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances (WGEID) in addressing state-sponsored disappearances with suitable examples from different countries.
- Estimate the socio-political consequences of prolonged insurgencies and state repression in resource-rich but underdeveloped regions, with reference to Balochistan and other global examples.
- What is the importance of forensic investigations in mass grave discoveries? How can they contribute to transitional justice and reconciliation processes?
