“Targeted for Being Baloch”: Extrajudicial Killing of Enforced Disappearance Survivor Sparks Outrage

Alleged execution of Wafa Baloch by Pakistani paramilitary forces intensifies scrutiny over human rights violations in Balochistan.

In a disturbing incident highlighting ongoing human rights concerns in Balochistan, reports have emerged of the extrajudicial killing of Wafa Baloch, a resident of Paroom tehsil in Panjgur district. On February 26, 2025, Pakistani paramilitary forces allegedly shot and killed Wafa near the Goldsmith Line, the border between Iran and Pakistan’s Balochistan region. ​

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a prominent advocacy group, condemned the killing, stating that Wafa had previously endured six months of enforced disappearance and illegal detention by Pakistani security agencies. Despite his release, the trauma for his family persisted, culminating in his death while he was earning a livelihood as a border driver. The BYC emphasized that he was “targeted solely for being Baloch.” ​

This incident has intensified calls from human rights organizations and the international community for immediate attention to the escalating violations in Balochistan. The BYC highlighted that Pakistani security forces, intelligence agencies, and state-backed militias routinely target, disappear, and execute civilians, making systematic oppression a daily reality in the region. ​

While Pakistani authorities have yet to respond officially to these allegations, the pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings has been a longstanding issue in Balochistan. Local activists continue to raise concerns about the safety and human rights of the Baloch community, urging global intervention to address the deteriorating situation.​

Tags: Balochistan, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, human rights violations, Pakistani paramilitary forces, Baloch Yakjehti Committee, Wafa Baloch, Panjgur district, Goldsmith Line, Iran-Pakistan border​