Amid escalating unrest in Pakistan’s Balochistan, the separatist militant group BLA has released a video showing captured Pakistani soldiers appealing for help, intensifying concerns over the security situation.
Amid the protracted insurgency in Pakistan’s southwest, the separatist militant group Balochistan Liberation Army has released a video showing several captured Pakistani soldiers appealing for their lives and urging authorities to intervene.
The footage, published by its media arm Hakkal Media, shows uniformed men kneeling in rugged terrain, displaying military identification cards and stating they were deployed by the Pakistani Army — claims that contradict earlier official denials that any personnel were missing or in militant custody.
Claims around ‘Operation Herof 2.0’
According to the group, the soldiers were seized during what it calls “Operation Herof 2.0”, part of its continuing insurgent campaign in Balochistan, where attacks on state forces and infrastructure have intensified since mid-2025.
In the video, the detainees state their service details and identity information, while one claims the army has “abandoned” them despite their service. The captives are also seen urging the government and military leadership to negotiate for their release.
BLA escalates psychological warfare with detailed footage of Shehram, challenging Pakistan’s narrative after AI-fake claims. #BalochInsurgency #PakistanConflict #PsychWarfare pic.twitter.com/YSlfdDRLVK
— Aslam Javed (@javed_maslam) February 20, 2026
Detentions and prisoner swap demand
The group claims it has detained more than 20 individuals in recent operations, releasing some — reportedly local Baloch levies and police personnel — while holding several regular army soldiers. It has issued a deadline for a prisoner swap, demanding the exchange of Baloch detainees held by Pakistani authorities, failing which it says it will carry out “court sentences” through a self-styled tribunal. Pakistani authorities have not publicly confirmed the capture of any soldiers, and independent verification from the conflict-hit region remains limited.
Insurgency backdrop in Balochistan
The development comes amid a long-running insurgency in Balochistan, where separatist groups have waged a decades-long campaign citing political marginalisation and the exploitation of the province’s natural resources. Violence has escalated in recent years, with insurgents claiming increasingly coordinated attacks, including bombings, assaults on security convoys, and major strikes on state targets. In March 2025, the group claimed responsibility for the hijacking of the Jaffar Express, an incident that underscored its operational reach and heightened national security concerns.
Official stance and security implications
Pakistan designates the BLA as a terrorist organisation and has consistently rejected negotiations with militant groups. The latest video and hostage claims underscore the volatile security situation in Balochistan and the continuing challenge posed by separatist militancy.
Earlier statement on detained soldiers
Earlier, the group said it had detained 17 Pakistani soldiers and gave Islamabad a one-week deadline to arrange a prisoner exchange for the remaining seven, according to a statement issued through its media wing. In remarks attributed to spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, the operation was described as the second phase of “Operation Herof”. The statement added that 10 released personnel were ethnic Baloch linked to local policing structures and were freed after being “warned”, which the group said reflected “ground realities” and the broader interests of the Baloch population.
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