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.