The Baloch Liberation Army has announced what it described as a “clear and permanent organizational policy” against kidnapping for ransom, saying it would “never be involved” in such activities.
In a media statement, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the policy was being issued to formally inform the Baloch people, all relevant circles and the wider world of the group’s position on the issue, so that the Baloch nation understood its “organizational and ideological position” and where it stood in “protecting its people”.
The BLA said its struggle for what it called Baloch national freedom and sovereignty was being carried out under a “comprehensive military code of conduct and political objective”, adding that kidnapping for ransom was an “unethical and anti-social” practice that could not be treated as a source of financial resources.
“The BLA does not, under any circumstances, consider unethical and anti-social practices such as kidnapping for ransom to be legitimate means of generating financial resources. It is the organization’s firm and unwavering policy that the BLA will never be involved in kidnapping for ransom,” the statement said.
The group said its military operations were directed solely against the Pakistani state’s military and what it described as “exploitative institutions”, not against innocent civilians, traders or local individuals.
The statement said reports had been received from various regions that certain “criminal elements” were abducting innocent people and demanding ransom while using the BLA’s name as cover.
It said the BLA considered it necessary to clarify that such elements had “no connection whatsoever” with the organization’s structure, networks or fighters.
The group instructed the Baloch people not to pay any ransom demanded in the organization’s name “under any circumstances”.
“If any individual or group demands a ransom in the name of the BLA, a complaint should be filed immediately through the organization’s trusted and official channels,” the statement said.
The BLA said the identity of complainants would be kept “completely confidential”, adding that strict action would be taken against those involved in such activities.
“The BLA will not only oppose ransom kidnapping ideologically, but will also actively confront those involved in such activities in practice,” the statement said.