The Pakistani Army’s torture of Baloch people in Balochistan is one of the most serious and recurring human rights concerns in South Asia. This issue has been widely reported by international human rights organizations, local activists, and survivors. The methods of torture are part of a broader strategy to crush Baloch nationalism and resistance. Below is an elaborate breakdown of how the Pakistani Army tortures Baloch people — physically, psychologically, and socially. --- 1. Enforced Disappearances: The First Step in Torture 1.1 Abduction Without Warrants People — especially students, activists, teachers, and villagers — are often abducted from their homes, streets, or checkpoints without any legal procedure. Family members are not informed of the arrest or the location of the detainee. 1.2 Secret Detention Centers Detainees are held in undisclosed locations, sometimes for years. These black sites are usually run by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Frontier Corps (FC). Legal access and visits from family or lawyers are completely denied. --- 2. Physical Torture Techniques Used by the Pakistani Army 2.1 Beating and Whipping Victims are beaten with iron rods, sticks, rubber pipes, or belts until they lose consciousness. Whipping on the soles of feet (falaka) is a common and painful method. 2.2 Electric Shocks High-voltage electric shocks are administered to sensitive areas like genitals, ears, or tongue. This causes long-term physical and neurological damage. 2.3 Waterboarding and Drowning Simulation Detainees are subjected to simulated drowning using waterboards or buckets. This method induces extreme fear of death and is used to extract confessions. 2.4 Hanging and Suspension Victims are suspended upside down or by their wrists for hours or days. This often causes dislocated joints and long-term nerve damage. 2.5 Burning and Branding Cigarette burns or branding with hot irons are inflicted on the back, arms, or chest. These leave permanent scars and are often used as punishment or intimidation. 2.6 Sexual Torture Some detainees are subjected to rape, sodomy, or threats of sexual assault. In some cases, detainees are forced to watch others being raped. Sexual humiliation is used to break the spirit of the victim. --- 3. Psychological Torture and Brainwashing 3.1 Solitary Confinement Victims are kept in dark, cold, or soundless cells for long periods. This leads to hallucinations, panic attacks, and permanent mental trauma. 3.2 Mock Executions Detainees are blindfolded, taken to open grounds, and made to believe they will be shot. Gunshots are fired near them to cause psychological collapse. 3.3 Threats Against Family Victims are told their family members will be abducted, raped, or killed. In some cases, families are also tortured or harassed to pressure the detainee. 3.4 Forced Confessions After prolonged torture, many detainees are forced to sign confessions stating they are "Indian agents" or "terrorists." These confessions are later used in media or military courts to justify detentions. --- 4. Torture of Women and Children 4.1 Intimidation of Female Protesters Women participating in peaceful protests for missing relatives are beaten, detained, and harassed. Many are threatened with rape or shamed on social media. 4.2 Abuse in Front of Family Security forces sometimes torture male family members in front of their children and wives. This creates a lasting psychological impact on the entire household. --- 5. Torture Leading to Death 5.1 Kill-and-Dump Tactic Many tortured detainees are eventually killed. Their mutilated bodies are dumped in remote locations like mountains, deserts, or along highways. The corpses often show signs of: Drill holes in skulls Broken limbs Burn marks Missing eyes or organs 5.2 Public Executions In some areas, Baloch fighters or suspected nationalists are killed in staged “encounters” and labeled as terrorists. --- 6. Military Operations as Collective Torture 6.1 Bombing of Villages Entire villages in Dera Bugti, Kech, Panjgur, and Awaran have been shelled or bombed. Civilians are treated as combatants, homes are burned, and cattle are killed. 6.2 House Raids and Looting Soldiers raid homes at night, destroy belongings, beat family members, and take away valuables. Entire communities are forcibly displaced. --- 7. Torture in Custody Reported by Survivors Survivors of Pakistani Army custody have given testimonies describing their suffering: > Testimony 1 (Name withheld): “I was kept in a dark room for 43 days. They beat me with electric cables and burnt my chest. They would bring in another boy and beat him in front of me to scare me.” > Testimony 2 (Student from Quetta): “I was arrested at the bus stop. For 19 days, I was electrocuted and told I was an Indian spy. They forced me to sign papers that I had never read.” > Testimony 3 (Baloch Woman Activist): “We were protesting peacefully when FC men came and hit us with sticks. They pulled my dupatta, and one of them slapped me, calling me an agent.” --- 8. International Response Despite strong documentation by NGOs, the international community has largely ignored or muted criticism of Pakistan’s actions in Balochistan due to geopolitical interests. UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances has expressed concern. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have published alarming reports. However, there has been little international accountability. --- 9. Consequences of Torture 9.1 Social Collapse Baloch society is traumatized, and many live in fear of expressing opinions. Generations are growing up amid violence and oppression. 9.2 Migration and Displacement Thousands of Baloch families have migrated to Afghanistan, Iran, or European countries seeking asylum. Displacement leads to broken communities and poverty. 9.3 Radicalization Continued torture and state brutality push youth toward armed resistance. Instead of peace, torture only fuels more violence. --- 10. Conclusion Torture by the Pakistani Army in Balochistan is systematic, brutal, and aimed at crushing dissent and erasing the Baloch identity. From physical beatings to psychological torment and even sexual violence, the tools of oppression are varied and horrifying. What makes it worse is the impunity with which the military acts — shielded by the state, judiciary, and lack of international scrutiny. Ending torture in Balochistan requires: Immediate transparency of military operations Accountability for human rights violations UN-led investigations into torture and disappearances A political solution that respects Baloch dignity, autonomy, and human rights Only then can Balochistan begin to heal from the scars of military torture.

 The Pakistani Army’s torture of Baloch people in Balochistan

 is one of the most serious and recurring human rights concerns in South Asia. This issue has been widely reported by international human rights organizations, local activists, and survivors. The methods of torture are part of a broader strategy to crush Baloch nationalism and resistance. Below is an elaborate breakdown of how the Pakistani Army tortures Baloch people — physically, psychologically, and socially.

---

1. Enforced Disappearances: The First Step in Torture

1.1 Abduction Without Warrants

People — especially students, activists, teachers, and villagers — are often abducted from their homes, streets, or checkpoints without any legal procedure.

Family members are not informed of the arrest or the location of the detainee.

1.2 Secret Detention Centers

Detainees are held in undisclosed locations, sometimes for years.

These black sites are usually run by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Frontier Corps (FC).

Legal access and visits from family or lawyers are completely denied.

---

2. Physical Torture Techniques Used by the Pakistani Army

2.1 Beating and Whipping

Victims are beaten with iron rods, sticks, rubber pipes, or belts until they lose consciousness.

Whipping on the soles of feet (falaka) is a common and painful method.

2.2 Electric Shocks

High-voltage electric shocks are administered to sensitive areas like genitals, ears, or tongue.

This causes long-term physical and neurological damage.

2.3 Waterboarding and Drowning Simulation

Detainees are subjected to simulated drowning using waterboards or buckets.

This method induces extreme fear of death and is used to extract confessions.

2.4 Hanging and Suspension

Victims are suspended upside down or by their wrists for hours or days.

This often causes dislocated joints and long-term nerve damage.

2.5 Burning and Branding

Cigarette burns or branding with hot irons are inflicted on the back, arms, or chest.

These leave permanent scars and are often used as punishment or intimidation.

2.6 Sexual Torture

Some detainees are subjected to rape, sodomy, or threats of sexual assault.

In some cases, detainees are forced to watch others being raped.

Sexual humiliation is used to break the spirit of the victim.

---

3. Psychological Torture and Brainwashing

3.1 Solitary Confinement

Victims are kept in dark, cold, or soundless cells for long periods.

This leads to hallucinations, panic attacks, and permanent mental trauma.

3.2 Mock Executions

Detainees are blindfolded, taken to open grounds, and made to believe they will be shot.

Gunshots are fired near them to cause psychological collapse.

3.3 Threats Against Family

Victims are told their family members will be abducted, raped, or killed.

In some cases, families are also tortured or harassed to pressure the detainee.

3.4 Forced Confessions

After prolonged torture, many detainees are forced to sign confessions stating they are "Indian agents" or "terrorists."

These confessions are later used in media or military courts to justify detentions.

---

4. Torture of Women and Children

4.1 Intimidation of Female Protesters

Women participating in peaceful protests for missing relatives are beaten, detained, and harassed.

Many are threatened with rape or shamed on social media.

4.2 Abuse in Front of Family

Security forces sometimes torture male family members in front of their children and wives.

This creates a lasting psychological impact on the entire household.

---

5. Torture Leading to Death

5.1 Kill-and-Dump Tactic

Many tortured detainees are eventually killed.

Their mutilated bodies are dumped in remote locations like mountains, deserts, or along highways.

The corpses often show signs of:

Drill holes in skulls

Broken limbs

Burn marks

Missing eyes or organs

5.2 Public Executions

In some areas, Baloch fighters or suspected nationalists are killed in staged “encounters” and labeled as terrorists.

---

6. Military Operations as Collective Torture

6.1 Bombing of Villages

Entire villages in Dera Bugti, Kech, Panjgur, and Awaran have been shelled or bombed.

Civilians are treated as combatants, homes are burned, and cattle are killed.

6.2 House Raids and Looting

Soldiers raid homes at night, destroy belongings, beat family members, and take away valuables.

Entire communities are forcibly displaced.

---

7. Torture in Custody Reported by Survivors

Survivors of Pakistani Army custody have given testimonies describing their suffering:

> Testimony 1 (Name withheld):

“I was kept in a dark room for 43 days. They beat me with electric cables and burnt my chest. They would bring in another boy and beat him in front of me to scare me.”

> Testimony 2 (Student from Quetta):

“I was arrested at the bus stop. For 19 days, I was electrocuted and told I was an Indian spy. They forced me to sign papers that I had never read.”

> Testimony 3 (Baloch Woman Activist):

“We were protesting peacefully when FC men came and hit us with sticks. They pulled my dupatta, and one of them slapped me, calling me an agent.”

---

8. International Response

Despite strong documentation by NGOs, the international community has largely ignored or muted criticism of Pakistan’s actions in Balochistan due to geopolitical interests.

UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances has expressed concern.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have published alarming reports.

However, there has been little international accountability.

---

9. Consequences of Torture

9.1 Social Collapse

Baloch society is traumatized, and many live in fear of expressing opinions.

Generations are growing up amid violence and oppression.

9.2 Migration and Displacement

Thousands of Baloch families have migrated to Afghanistan, Iran, or European countries seeking asylum.

Displacement leads to broken communities and poverty.

9.3 Radicalization

Continued torture and state brutality push youth toward armed resistance.

Instead of peace, torture only fuels more violence.

---

10. Conclusion

Torture by the Pakistani Army in Balochistan is systematic, brutal, and aimed at crushing dissent and erasing the Baloch identity. From physical beatings to psychological torment and even sexual violence, the tools of oppression are varied and horrifying. What makes it worse is the impunity with which the military acts — shielded by the state, judiciary, and lack of international scrutiny.

Ending torture in Balochistan requires:

Immediate transparency of military operations

Accountability for human rights violations

UN-led investigations into torture and disappearances

A political solution that respects Baloch dignity, autonomy, and human rights

Only then can Balochistan begin to heal from the scars of military torture.