Opinion | Custodial Killings in Pakistan’s Insurgency-Torn BALOCHISTAN

While Pakistan often speaks of peace on the global stage and presents itself as a mediator in conflicts abroad, its own regions such as PoJK/GB, KP, and Balochistan tell a far more troubling story. In these areas, the reality remains deeply unsettling, marked by countless killings, enforced disappearances, and a harsh and repressive control.

In Pakistan’s largest province, Balochistan, a land of rugged mountains, a beautiful coastline, valleys, landscapes, a strategic port and abundant resources, lie a grim and disheartening reality filled with pain and misery. Balochistan has for decades been the epicentre of an insurgency driven by deep-rooted grievances: political marginalization, economic neglect, and disputes over control of natural resources. The province under Pakistan’s control has witnessed years of exploitation, human rights abuses, poverty and forced disappearances. As if this were not enough to suppress Baloch voices, another layer of suffering has been added: custodial killings, deaths in state custody often referred to as extrajudicial killings. The roots of the uprising are simple; the people demand rights over their resources and land or more precisely a sense of autonomy and justice. However, these demands have been met with brutal force and repression, gradually turning protests into a prolonged conflict. The state’s harsh crackdown intended to crush the Baloch will for basic rights has instead failed to break their spirit, making resistance more resolute. As voices intensified so did repression, methods such as human rights abuses, torture and sexual violence were employed, with custodial killings emerging as one of the most feared tactics used to silence dissent.

Custodial killings, often linked with enforced disappearances and extrajudicial actions, have emerged as one of the most troubling human rights concerns in Pakistan’s largest yet least developed province. In this gruesome pattern of human rights violations, security forces abduct individuals, often without any formal notice, torture them in custody, and either they die due to inhumane treatment or are directly killed. Imagine the pain of a family whose only son or sole breadwinner is taken away and later found dead, not in a hospital morgue but in a desert, on a riverbank, or in some barren land. How would his wife, mother, and children feel, would it not shatter their entire world. A father, brother, or son leaves home for work but does not return for days, and if he does, he returns lifeless, bearing chilling scars and grave injuries on his body. A mother sees her son off saying fi amanillah (may you be under Allah’s protection), hoping for his safety, only to receive news of his death. A sister bids farewell to her brother with Allah Hafiz, only to see him wrapped in a shroud. A wife says goodbye to her husband, only to become a widow. Children wait for their father to return with toys and sweets, but instead are left orphaned. An old and ailing father hopes his son will support him, only to carry his son’s dead body on his shoulders. A man waits to spend time with his friend but ends up mourning his death. Imagine the pain and suffering this inhumane and brutal practice of custodial killings inflict on these families, destroying homes and bringing endless grief upon them. This is how Baloch people live under Pakistan’s rule, in constant ecosystem of fear and suppression.

Who are the victims of these custodial killings and why this happens? They are common Balochs or whosoever Pakistani forces get their hands on, they are Baloch youth, intellectuals, students, activists, journalists or even labourers and absolute common Balochs who have nothing to do with anything. The issue is tied to a broader conflict in Balochistan. It stems from a long-running insurgency in the region, where various groups have raised demands related to political rights, control over natural resources, and greater autonomy. In response, the state has undertaken efforts to suppress separatist movements through security operations. However, these measures have often been accompanied by recurring incidents of collective punishment and intimidation tactics, which have further deepened mistrust and resentment among the local population. It is often said that for a great cause, an even greater sacrifice is required. Similarly, to break the unwavering will of the Baloch people, increasingly inhumane methods of repression have been employed. In doing so, Pakistani forces not only kill individuals but attempt to silence their will to raise their voice against oppression. By killing one person, they create countless victims, leaving behind orphaned children, widowed wives, grieving sisters, and parents whose hopes are shattered. This climate of fear extends beyond individual families to entire communities. Speaking out invites retaliation, and silence often becomes a survival strategy. Activists and journalists who attempt to document these abuses face threats, harassment, and censorship. As a result, many incidents remain underreported, hidden behind the barriers of geography, politics, and intimidation. What emerges in the public domain is likely only a fraction of the reality. This climate of fear extends beyond individual families to entire communities. Speaking out can invite retaliation, and silence often becomes a survival strategy. Activists and journalists who attempt to document these abuses face threats, harassment, and censorship. As a result, many incidents remain underreported, hidden behind the barriers of geography, politics, and intimidation. What emerges in the public domain is likely only a fraction of the reality.

Diving a bit into history for context purpose. The insurgency in Balochistan arose from a combination of long-standing political, economic, and social grievances. Many in the region have felt marginalized and excluded from decision-making processes, despite Balochistan being rich in natural resources such as gas and minerals. There is a widespread perception that these resources have been exploited without fair benefit to the local population, leading to poverty and underdevelopment. Over time, demands for greater autonomy, control over resources, and political rights intensified, but responses were often seen as dismissive or forceful rather than reconciliatory. This deepened mistrust and fear between the state and the local population, gradually transforming political discontent into armed resistance and fuelling a sustained insurgency.

According to human rights reports, the scale of abuses in Balochistan remains deeply alarming. In February 2026 alone, at least 234 enforced disappearances and 87 killings were documented, highlighting the continuing pattern of violence and repression in the region. The figures for the previous year are equally concerning, with around 225 extrajudicial killings and 1,355 enforced disappearances reported in 2025. These statistics reflect not isolated incidents but a persistent trend that underscores the severity of the human rights situation in the province.

At its core, the issue of custodial killings in Balochistan is about more than policy or politics; it is about the value placed on human life. Every individual taken without due process, everybody discovered in a desolate landscape, is a reminder of a system that has failed to uphold its most basic responsibilities. For the families left behind, justice is not an abstract concept but a deeply personal need a need that remains largely unmet.

ALIZAROON@112GMAIL.COM