Muzaffarabad (Pakistan administrated Kashmir) – Two young men from Muzaffarabad, who were abducted during their travels in Thailand, have been rescued after being held captive in Myanmar. The abduction occurred on October 10, 2024, when the two individuals, Umar Abbasi and Rais Abbasi, were traveling in Thailand. They were forcefully taken to Myanmar after being drugged by a taxi driver and later found themselves imprisoned in a notorious camp in Myanmar.

The victims were held in captivity for months, enduring severe physical and mental abuse, along with daily torture. According to their accounts, the conditions were harrowing, with around 100 individuals confined in a large compound, all subjected to brutal treatment and forced labor. “We were told we had been bought, and any attempt to escape would result in our deaths,” said Umar Abbasi, one of the victims.

Despite several attempts to alert the Pakistani government, their families were left without much support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies in Thailand and Myanmar, or the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government. “The governments did not play any active role in our rescue,” said Abbasi. “Only a few individuals like Minister Bazil Naqvi from the Azad Kashmir government made efforts by writing letters. But our families had to negotiate a hefty ransom with human traffickers to secure our release.”

The victims were eventually rescued through the assistance of American and Australian NGOs that focus on the release of kidnapped individuals. The ransom was paid, and the two men were transported from Myanmar to Thailand, where they are now safe. “We are deeply grateful for the support of international NGOs, but the lack of help from our own government was disappointing,” Abbasi said.

Both men also highlighted the involvement of transnational criminal networks and pointed out that, despite Thailand and Myanmar having several border checkpoints, they were able to be smuggled across the borders without detection. “How is it possible to cross borders without any checks? The situation clearly points to an organized network between the Thai and Myanmar authorities,” said Abbasi.

As of now, the two men have been reunited with their families, who expressed immense relief. However, they continue to call for government intervention to investigate the abduction and trafficking networks operating between these countries. The family members are also urging the Pakistani government to formally lodge a protest with Myanmar and Thailand regarding the safety and treatment of their citizens.

Meanwhile, other victims from around the world, numbering in the thousands, remain trapped in similar conditions. At present, there are over 40,000 individuals from nearly 37 countries held in Myanmar, where they are subjected to constant torture, forced labor, and inadequate living conditions.

The two victims are now seeking justice, calling for the investigation of all involved parties, including the human traffickers and the authorities who may have facilitated their abduction.