Baloch Militants Claim Capture Of 7 Pakistani Soldiers, Give Week-Long Deadline For Prisoner Swap

Islamabad: The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) on Sunday claimed that they have captured seven Pakistani military personnel and also demanded a prisoner exchange within seven days. 

What did the group say?

A video that is circulating on social media, shows the Pakistani soldiers in custody, intensifying pressure on the Pakistani government and military leadership.

The group in statement on Sunday said that it has captured seven members of Pakistan’s security forces. 

The Baloch Liberation Army said these soldiers were captured during the "Operation Herof 2.0" in Balochistan.

The BLA claims an initial group of 17 personnel was captured, but that 10 were released after verification of their local or non-army status. The remaining seven were retained in custody. 

The group demands their exchange for Baloch prisoners within seven days, or faces serious consequences, amid a recent surge of violence where BLA attacks killed dozens and Pakistan's forces reported eliminating over 200 militants. 

With no official response from Pakistan's military yet, families hope for the men's safe return as the February 21 deadline approaches.

What are the BLA's demands?

The BLA has given Islamabad a seven-day deadline to begin formal prisoner-swap talks, saying the soldiers could be freed in exchange for detained Baloch activists. 

According to the militant group, a so-called Baloch national court has reviewed the case and passed a death sentence on the soldiers for alleged crimes against the Baloch people — including involvement in operations against civilians. The group says it expects Pakistan to respond with an official negotiation within a week. If not, the militants say they will carry out the sentence. 

Why this matters now?

In recent weeks, reports have emerged of hundreds of Pakistani troops killed and a sharp rise in militant attacks in Balochistan under the banner of “Operation Herof 2.0”. The situation is adding pressure on Islamabad’s security establishment, which has been juggling counter-insurgency efforts alongside other domestic and regional security challenges.