The Balochistan separatist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has demanded the release of 7 members of the Pakistani security forces. At the same time, the BLA has given a seven-day ultimatum in exchange for the prisoners. NDTV reported.
They have warned that if talks do not start within 7 days, the captured soldiers will be executed. A statement issued by the BLA's media wing Hakkal has informed about this ultimatum.
A video message has also been released along with the ultimatum. It has been informed that there are six days left for the ultimatum to end.
However, NDTV could not independently verify whether the BLA is in possession of the 7 Pakistani soldiers. On the other hand, there was no immediate response from any official of the Pakistani government or military regarding the BLA's claim and the ultimatum.
The BLA claimed that these Pakistani soldiers were arrested in the second phase of the ‘Herf operation’. The group claimed that a total of 17 people associated with the Pakistani security forces were arrested from different places during the operation. However, 10 were released with a warning because they were ethnic Baloch and had links with the local police.
The BLA said that the decision to release these 10 was taken considering the ‘situation on the ground’, their locality and the interests of the Baloch community. The BLA also said that the remaining 7 detainees are members of the regular units of the Pakistani army. These soldiers are in our custody and their trial has been completed in the ‘Baloch National Court’.
In a statement, the BLA said that during the trial, various charges were brought against the detainees, including crimes against civilians, aiding or abetting enforced disappearances and participation in ‘genocide’ against the Baloch community. In addition to presenting evidence, the accused were given the opportunity to defend themselves in the trial and their confessions were also recorded for various crimes they were involved in.
The separatist group said that the 7 Pakistani soldiers who were arrested were found guilty. They were also sentenced to death. However, they gave Pakistan 7 days to do so.
If Pakistan shows interest in a ‘prisoner of war exchange’ within this period, then the 7 soldiers could be returned in exchange for the release of Baloch prisoners held by the Pakistani authorities.
The BLA had offered such a prisoner exchange several times before. They claim that the Pakistani authorities never agreed to such talks, and that they ultimately ‘ignored the lives of their soldiers’.
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