In a stern rebuke, United Nations human rights specialists have voiced grave concerns over Pakistan’s counterterrorism strategies in Balochistan, criticizing the detrimental impact on human rights and urging adherence to international standards.
The experts acknowledged the threats posed by armed groups in the region but emphasized that counterterrorism efforts must align with global human rights and humanitarian principles. They were particularly alarmed by the persistent use of enforced disappearances, labeling it a severe rights infringement and an international offense.
The specialists have urged Pakistan to implement independent investigation mechanisms to uncover the fates of those who have disappeared, criminalize the act of enforced disappearances, and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. They also called for the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances.
Concerns were also raised about Pakistan’s alleged conflation of legitimate human rights advocacy with terrorism, which poses a threat to freedoms of expression, assembly, and association. Frequent internet shutdowns in Balochistan have further stifled information flow and restricted political engagement.
Reports of widespread torture, illtreatment, extrajudicial killings, and indiscriminate violence by security forces, particularly against peaceful demonstrators and human rights defenders, were strongly condemned. The experts highlighted the detention of Baloch Yakjehti Committee leaders and supporters, which could be seen as reprisals for engaging with UN mechanisms.
They called for urgent action to prevent these violations, hold offenders accountable, and provide remedies to the affected individuals. The broad definition of terrorism in Pakistan’s AntiTerrorism Act has facilitated the wrongful listing of many as “proscribed persons”, including activists and academics, with some barred from leaving the country.
The specialists urged the Pakistani Government to reconsider proposed changes to preventive detention laws, which could lead to arbitrary detentions and other rights abuses. They expressed concerns that new internment centers for terrorism suspects might result in human rights violations, including torture and disappearances.
The UN experts have communicated these concerns to the Pakistani Government and are prepared to offer technical assistance to address these issues. They stressed the importance of resolving underlying grievances in Balochistan to combat terrorism effectively, as outlined in the United Nations Global CounterTerrorism Strategy.