In the aftermath of Afghanistan’s ban on opium cultivation, Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic surge in opium production, especially in the Pashtun and Baloch regions. Reportedly, the Pakistan military, particularly the ISI, is playing a key role in facilitating the drug trade. The ISI, through intermediaries, has reportedly offered lucrative deals to drug dealers, allowing them to cultivate opium across thousands of acres in Pak-occupied-Balochistan, including areas like Gulistan, Qila Abdullah, Muslim Bagh, and Makran.

This surge in drug cultivation is not just a consequence of opportunistic criminals but a calculated move by the Pak Army to maintain control over these regions. By encouraging the production of drugs, the Pak Army is effectively keeping youth addicted. The drug trade has become a tool of control, with the military profiting while the people of POB suffer from the devastating effects of addiction.

Drug Trade Thrives Under Pak Army

At the same time, the Pak Army is exploiting the rich natural resources of POB, plundering the land and forcefully occupying local resources. The people of POB, already marginalized and struggling under decades of systemic oppression, are being further pushed to the fringes as their land is leased out for drug cultivation. Reportedly, lands in these regions are being leased for exorbitant rates, with five acres going for as much as 10 lakh rupees.

The Pakistan Army’s stranglehold over POB extends beyond drug cultivation. The region’s resources—its minerals, land, and wealth—are being looted at the expense of the indigenous population. These communities, instead of benefiting from their own land, are being systematically marginalized, deprived of basic rights, and subjected to ongoing repression.

While the drug trade continues to flourish under the Pak Army’s watch, POB’s communities remain trapped in poverty and addiction, their future bleak as the military tightens its grip on their land. The Pak Army is profiting off their suffering, keeping the region destabilized, and ensuring that its resources flow into the hands of those in power.

The family of Ustad Wahid Kambar, a prominent Baloch nationalist leader, has launched a campaign demanding his safe return following his enforced disappearance. Wahid Kambar, a veteran of the Baloch Liberation Movement and a diabetic who recently underwent angioplasty, was abducted on July 19, 2024, in Kirman, Iran. His family is gravely concerned for his health and well-being, fearing for his life amidst growing reports of Pakistan’s brutal tactics against Baloch activists.

The Baloch rights group, Paank, has condemned Kambar’s disappearance, attributing it to the Pak intelligence agencies. This incident is yet another disturbing example of Pak Army’s long-standing pattern of enforced disappearances targeting Baloch leaders and activists, a practice that has become a hallmark of the country’s violent repression of the Baloch people.

Baloch Veteran Leader Ustad Wahid Kambar Vanishes

The abduction of Ustad Wahid Kambar highlights a broader systemic problem. In Pak-occupied-Balochistan, countless activists and individuals who dare to criticize the Paki establishment vanish without a trace. Families are left in anguish, searching for answers in a country that systematically silences dissent through extrajudicial means. Those who are fortunate enough to return bear the scars of torture, an indication of Pak Army’s calculated approach to extracting information and punishing resistance. Others, tragically, return in body bags, with bullet-ridden corpses discovered across the region—an all-too-common outcome of these extrajudicial executions.

Wahid Kambar’s prominent role in the Baloch liberation movement and his status as a political leader make his disappearance even more alarming. His recognition as a prisoner of war under international humanitarian law, a status that would grant him protections under the Geneva Conventions, which Pakistan has pledged to uphold. Yet, Pakistan’s systematic violations of international law cast doubt on its willingness to adhere to any such obligations.

The urgent nature of Kambar’s medical condition adds to the gravity of his situation. With severe health issues, including heart disease, his life is in imminent danger without proper medical attention. His family’s plea for his immediate release and access to healthcare is not only a call for justice but also a critical humanitarian demand. The international community cannot remain silent.

Residents of Gali, Zundan in Tehsil Buleda, launched a large-scale protest against the oppressive Paki establishment of a new Pak military checkpoint within their community, blocking the main road. The protest saw significant participation from local residents, including women, all united in opposition to the unchecked military presence.

Protestors expressed their deep frustration, pointing out that a checkpoint already exists at Bahut Bazaar, which has long been a source of harassment for the people. These military outposts are notorious for tormenting the civilian population.

Later, after successful negotiations between the Frontier Corps (FC) and the residents of Gali Buleida, the protest has come to an end. The FC, acknowledging the concerns of the local population, agreed to relocate the checkpoint away from the village.

The Pak Army’s aggressive actions in Pak-occupied-Balochistan, including heavy troop deployments and night-time searchlights directed at homes, have created an atmosphere of fear and oppression, particularly for women. These tactics are blatant violations of human rights, and the constant military presence disrupts daily life and causes widespread anxiety among the people.

The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has condemned the Pakistan Army’s human rights abuses in Pak-occupied Balochistan, branding the region as a “graveyard of hopes” rather than just a piece of land. This stark criticism was voiced during the fifth international Balochistan conference held in Geneva from September 16 to 18, 2024.

Sammi Deen Baloch, General Secretary of BNM, addressed the conference via video link, highlighting the severe human rights violations perpetrated by Pak forces and intelligence agencies. He described POB as a place where humanity is continuously disregarded, calling on the international community to intervene and address the issue of enforced disappearances, a direct consequence of the Pakistan military’s actions.

The conference, part of BNM’s ongoing Geneva activities, was attended by global representatives and activists who discussed the dire situation in POB. The event aimed to shed light on the collaboration between China and Pakistan in exploiting the region and violating human rights.

BNM Criticizes Pak Army’s Brutality

The first segment of the conference featured prominent speakers, including climate change activist Yusuf Baloch, PhD scholar Jaffer Mirza from King’s College London, former spokesperson of the Jammu Kashmir Peoples National Party Habib-ur-Rehman, and Dr. Lakho Lohano from the World Sindhi Congress. They spoke about the challenges faced by the Baloch people and the ongoing resistance against the Pakistan military’s oppressive tactics.

In the second segment, international figures such as Afrasiab Khattak from the National Democratic Movement, British MP John McDonnell, Nida Kirmani from Lahore University of Management Sciences, and human rights lawyers Iman Mazari and Dr. Jennifer Philippart contributed their insights. They criticized the Pak Army backed-government’s role in orchestrating the enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings, raids and frequent military operations. The speakers highlighted that the occupied-state’s reluctance to enact effective legislation against these abuses reflects its broader disregard for human rights.

The final segment featured BNM Chairman Dr. Naseem Baloch, historian Dr. Nasir Dashti, Italian journalist Francesca Marino, and human rights advocate Angelena. They condemned the Pak military’s use of the Fourth Schedule to target political activists, describing it as a tool for suppressing dissent and labeling individuals as terrorists without due process. They said that the Paki establishment, disconnected from the land it occupies, perpetuates a system of oppression and exploitation in POB.