The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called on Baloch ‘pro-independence’ armed groups to release the detainees taken from the Shaban area near Quetta last month on humanitarian grounds. The HRCP emphasized that the “detainees are civilians and should not be harmed.”
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the HRCP said, “HRCP strongly urges separatist groups in Balochistan to release the ‘tourists’ taken hostage in Shaban near Quetta last month on humanitarian grounds. They are civilians and must not be harmed.” The commission stressed that “a long-lasting solution to realizing the Baloch people’s legitimate fundamental rights can only be achieved through an honest political dialogue initiated by the state, not kinetic military operations.”
This appeal follows a recent announcement by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) regarding the fate of the Shaban detainees. On Saturday, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said that the Pakistani military has not responded to the offer of a prisoner exchange for the captives taken from Shaban. Consequently, the BLA Command Council has decided to execute the sentenced individuals following the expiration of the one-week deadline.
The BLA’s Fateh Squad conducted a targeted operation on 20 June in the Shaban area, detaining ten individuals. According to the BLA, after an initial investigation, the detainees were presented before the ‘Baloch national court.’ Seven of them were found guilty of collaborating with Pakistani military and intelligence agencies in the “genocide of Baloch people and harming Baloch national interests.” The three others were found innocent and released unharmed.
Jeeyand Baloch stated that the seven remaining detainees were charged after the allegations were proven. The BLA had expressed willingness for a prisoner exchange in accordance with international wartime principles. However, instead of engaging in the exchange, Pakistani forces launched military operations in the surrounding areas. “The insincere behavior of the Pakistani forces has led the BLA Senior Command Council to decide to proceed with the executions without any further extensions,” he said.
This is not the first time that the failure of the Pakistani military to engage in prisoner exchanges has led to dire consequences for their personnel. On 12 July 2022, BLA fighters captured Colonel Laiq Baig of the Pakistani Army near Quetta. The BLA offered a prisoner exchange for his release. However, instead of negotiating, the Pakistani military launched a large-scale heli-borne operation, resulting in Colonel Laiq Baig’s death two days later.
In another incident on 25 September 2022, the BLA detained Junior Commissioned Officer Kaleem Ullah and Military Intelligence official Muhammad Faisal at a checkpoint in Harnai. The BLA extended a deadline for a prisoner exchange, but Pakistani forces responded with military operations in the Harnai and Bolan regions of Balochistan. The use of force ultimately led to no progress on the exchange, and the detained personnel were not released.
In October 2023, the BLA captured Subedar Muhammad Khan and Sepoy Abdul Rasheed in the Margat area of Bolan. Despite the BLA’s willingness to negotiate, no efforts were made by the Pakistani military to engage in an exchange. The families of the detained personnel were also prevented from protesting, and no prisoner swap occurred.
It is also important to note that the HRCP’s appeal was issued on Sunday night, while the BLA had already announced on Saturday that the deadline for a prisoner exchange had passed and that the executions were scheduled for Sunday. This timing raises serious concerns that the executions might have already taken place by the time the HRCP made its appeal.
Moreover, the situation underscores the precarious position of the detainees, further exacerbated by the Pakistani military’s decision to launch large-scale operations instead of engaging in negotiations for a prisoner exchange to secure their release.