Mystery surrounds whereabouts of BLA leader Bashir Zeb Baloch
The Baloch Liberation Army announced on Tuesday that Bashir Zeb Baloch is stepping down from his position as Commander-in-Chief.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) announced on Tuesday that its Commander-in-Chief, Bashir Zeb Baloch, is stepping down from his post, according to the Times of India. The group's statement regarding the leadership change has led to speculation regarding his current status and whereabouts.
Pro-Pakistan social media accounts and Telegram channels have circulated various unverified claims. Some accounts suggest Zeb was the target of a poisoning attempt by a confidant in Kandahar and was taken to a military hospital, while others claim he was killed in a Pakistani military airstrike inside Afghanistan in September.
In an official statement, the BLA clarified that the decision to remove Zeb from his position followed a meeting of the Senior Command Council. The group stated that all administrative, military, and policy-making powers have been entrusted to the Senior Command Council until a new leader is selected.
The BLA said the transition is in accordance with principles established by founder Ustad Aslam Baloch during a 2018 reorganization. These principles aim to prevent lifelong leadership by ensuring a constitutional pathway for leadership transitions based on merit.
The group held a joint meeting of its highest bodies on October 16 to review organizational matters. All commanders reportedly decided in favour of a leadership transition to provide fresh momentum to the organisation's activities.
The BLA stated that military operations will continue without interruption across all fronts. The name of the new Commander-in-Chief will be announced once the next phases are concluded.