As nations of South Asia fight terrorism, Amnesty International (AI) says that “enforced disappearances” of people is growing and while “new patterns” are emerging from Pakistan , Nepal , and Sri Lanka. AI says that while India has “fewer new cases are reported now, there is still no information about past” estimated 8000-10000 missing from Jammu & Kashmir since 1989.

AI accused Pakistan using the “context of the ‘war on terror’” to victimize “several hundreds of people” into “enforced disappearances” while others were released “after receiving threats not to reveal details about their detention, while others were criminally charged.” It cited at least one incident where “the body of a victim of enforced disappearance was found six months after he had been captured” and while “The fate or whereabouts of many others remain unknown.” AI believes that “many of those have eventually been acknowledged as being held in Guatanamo Bay , others are believed still to be held in Pakistani detention although their precise whereabouts remain unknown.” The organization said it was “disappointing” that Pakistan is now on a declining “trend” with little chance of getting better.

The reported list of “enforced disappearances” in Nepal was estimated by a Government committee to be 600 while activists say that it is closer to 1000. Sri Lanka had one of the highest numbers of “unresolved enforced disappearances” arising from its “long-standing dispute” between the Sinhalese majority Government and Tamil minority in the North and East