The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an armed separatist group, has claimed responsibility for killing 50 more Pakistani soldiers after the government rejected a proposed prisoner exchange and launched military operations.
In a statement, the BLA said its fighters executed the soldiers an hour after Pakistan’s refusal to accept the exchange proposal and the initiation of large-scale military operations.
According to the statement, the soldiers had been convicted by the Baloch National Court on charges of genocide against the Baloch people, enforced disappearances, resource exploitation, state terrorism, and war crimes before being executed.
Earlier, after capturing soldiers from the Jaffar Express train, the Baloch separatists had killed 10 soldiers in response to a Pakistani drone strike. They also claimed to have killed 10 more during today’s clashes and 30 yesterday. With these latest casualties, the total number of Pakistani soldiers killed has exceeded 100, while approximately 150 others remain in BLA custody.
The Baloch separatists have warned the Pakistani government that if further military operations are launched or the exchange proposal is not accepted, the remaining soldiers will also be executed.
