Kamal Ghorui
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) reportedly released a video purportedly showing Pakistani Army personnel in its custody, as a self-declared deadline for a proposed prisoner exchange continues to run.In the footage circulated on social media, shared by region’s independent online news portal Balochistan Post, citing the group’s official channel Hakkal, several men appear on camera displaying what they say are official service cards and national identity documents. The individuals, identified by the BLA as detained servicemen, are heard appealing to Pakistani authorities. They claim that they were formally recruited, issued official documentation, and assigned postings, while questioning why authorities are allegedly refusing to acknowledge them.In the video, a soldier can be seen pleading to the Pakistan Army for help. “How can the army say that we are not their personnel? Whose card is this [showing supposed identitiy card]?It’s the Army’s right? Look at my identity card, Pakistan also issued this to me,” a soldier can be heard saying. Continuing his pleas, he addes, “I request for God’s sake, my father is disabled and I am the eldest at home. Do not commit this injustice by saying that we’re not your personnel. Then why did you recruit me if you’re going to say that we’re not your personnel? Why are you saying the video is fake?”However, critiques have raised questions over the authenticity of the video.The video release comes against the backdrop of a seven-day deadline previously announced by the BLA for a prisoner exchange involving individuals it described as “prisoners of war.” The group added that three days remain before the deadline expires.The development follows recent statements by the BLA asserting that it had captured multiple Pakistani military personnel during coordinated attacks across Balochistan. The group referred to the operations as “Operation Herof 2.0.”Pakistani authorities have not officially confirmed the claims. There has been no statement from government or military spokespersons regarding the number of personnel allegedly held, nor any formal response to the BLA’s proposed exchange or deadline.
