‘Why did you leave us?’, video of captive Pakistani soldiers surfaced, tension increased in Balochistan

New Delhi:A new video has emerged amid the ongoing insurgency in Pakistan’s south-western province of Balochistan, raising serious questions about the security situation. The separatist organization Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has released a video, in which many Pakistani soldiers are seen in captivity and pleading for their release.

In the video, soldiers in uniform are seen sitting on their knees in a rough area. They are showing their military identity cards claiming that they were issued service numbers by the Pakistan Army and were officially deployed. This video challenges the earlier statement of the army, in which it had denied that any soldier was missing or captured.

BLA’s claim

According to the BLA, these soldiers were captured during its alleged operation “Operation Hero of 2.0”. The organization says this operation is part of its ongoing insurgency campaign in Balochistan, targeting state forces and infrastructure since mid-2025.

In the video, captured soldiers are seen mentioning their unit, military identity and national documents. A soldier can be heard saying that despite fighting for Pakistan, the army has “abandoned” him. The prisoners are also reportedly appealing to the government and military leadership to ensure their release.

🚨Pak Army 🇵🇰 continuing their Kargil War Legacy.

⭐Surrendered Soldiers are crying & telling that the video is real. They have been abandoned by Asim Munir.

⭐ISPR Keyboard Warriors should be sent to occupied Balochistan, so that they could understand the reality. pic.twitter.com/nE5bD6uvnr

— ARIKA🇮🇳🚩 (@nidhisj2001) February 20, 2026

Demand for exchange of prisoners

Recent statements of BLA have claimed that they have more than 20 people in custody. Some of these have been released, including reportedly local Baloch personnel, while regular army personnel are still held captive.

The organization has set a deadline for the exchange of prisoners and demanded that Islamabad release the Baloch prisoners kept in Pakistani custody. BLA has warned that failing this it will take action against its self-declared "Baloch National Court"through so called "court decisions" Will implement. However, the Pakistani government has not yet publicly accepted the arrest of the soldiers.

Long-running insurgency in Balochistan

The separatist movement has been going on in Balochistan for decades. Local groups allege that exploitation of the province’s natural resources and political neglect have given rise to discontent. There has been a significant increase in violence in recent years.

Rebel organizations have carried out actions like roadside explosions, attacks on security convoys and targeting government targets. The hijacking of the Jafar Express passenger train in March 2025 had also deepened security concerns in the region.

Government’s stance and increasing uncertainty

The Pakistani government has declared BLA a terrorist organization and has been refusing any kind of dialogue with it. The latest video and hostage crisis have sparked a new debate about the current security situation in Balochistan.

The full picture of events remains unclear due to the limited availability of independent verification in the region, but this episode once again highlights the ongoing conflict in Balochistan and the challenge to state authority.