The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) said on Tuesday that it had carried out the death sentences of seven Pakistani military personnel captured during “Operation Herof II,” following authorisation by its Senior Command Council.
In a statement, the group said the seven men were affiliated with regular units of the Pakistani military and had been sentenced by the “Baloch National Court” for involvement in crimes including enforced disappearances, abuses against civilians and other war crimes.
The BLA said it had offered a seven-day ultimatum on 14 February for a prisoner exchange, which was later extended to fourteen days on what it described as humanitarian grounds.
According to the statement, the group concluded during this extended period that Pakistani military authorities were “not serious” about securing the release of their personnel.
The BLA alleged that initial contacts regarding a possible prisoner exchange were used as a “cunning manoeuvre” to buy time for military advances in the region, while Pakistani forces simultaneously carried out operations involving gunship helicopters, drones and heavy deployments.
The group said its Senior Command Council determined that the humanitarian grace period had been exploited to intensify hostilities and target Baloch fighters, adding that what it described as continued deception showed that the opposing side “only understands the language of strength and action”.
The BLA said that, in line with the final decision of the “Baloch National Court”, the sentences against all seven detainees were carried out on Tuesday. It placed responsibility for the deaths on Pakistan’s military high command, accusing it of prioritising “ego, military misadventures and cunning culture” over the lives of its own personnel.
Pakistani military authorities had not issued any statement on the claim at the time of publication.