Baloch human rights activist Sammi Deen Baloch has expressed concern over what she described as a sharp rise in the alleged enforced disappearances of students in Balochistan. She said the situation has worsened in recent days.
In a post on X, Baloch said enforced disappearances have continued in Balochistan for years, but claimed there has been a noticeable increase in cases involving students over the past few days.
She alleged that students and young people linked to peaceful political groups were being picked up from their homes, hostels and educational institutions.
Describing the practice as a "failed and inhumane state policy," Baloch said using enforced disappearances as a counter-insurgency strategy has failed to bring peace or stability to the province.
She argued that if such measures were effective, Balochistan would not still be facing violence, unrest and deep public anger. Instead, she said, these actions have only worsened the situation.
Baloch further alleged that many people are held for years without legal proceedings and are subjected to torture and degrading treatment while in custody.
According to her, such experiences leave many young people feeling angry and seeking revenge. She claimed that when some later turn to violence, authorities accuse campaigners against enforced disappearances of promoting militancy rather than addressing the reasons behind the unrest.
She also blamed the government for trying to place the blame on peaceful political workers and human rights activists instead of accepting responsibility.
Baloch said the real causes of instability are what she described as unlawful actions, state repression and harsh policies. She added that these measures continue to fuel conflict rather than resolve it.
She concluded by urging the authorities to review their approach instead of targeting those who raise concerns. She questioned why lasting peace has remained out of reach despite decades of alleged enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and collective punishment in the province.
The Pakistani government has repeatedly denied allegations of systematic enforced disappearances. It maintains that security operations are carried out within the framework of the law and are aimed at tackling militancy and maintaining public order.
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