Islamabad 12 August: The U.S. State Department has officially classified the Pakistan-based Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its militant wing, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).
The designation, which also lists the Majeed Brigade as an alias under the BLA’s existing Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) status from 2019, follows a string of deadly attacks attributed to the group, underscoring the Trump administration’s commitment to countering terrorism.
Wave of Violence Prompts Action
The BLA, a separatist group seeking independence for Pakistan’s Balochistan province, has been linked to multiple high-profile assaults. In 2024, the group claimed responsibility for suicide bombings near Karachi’s airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex, a key hub for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
In March 2025, the BLA hijacked the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and taking over 300 passengers hostage. The group detonated explosives on a railway track, forcing the train to stop before launching the attack. More recently, a roadside bomb in Balochistan’s Nushki district killed three Pakistani soldiers, including a major, in an attack claimed by the BLA’s Majeed Brigade.
The group’s spokesperson, Jeeyand Baloch, described the strike as an “intelligence-based operation” targeting a military convoy. These incidents are part of a broader surge in attacks, with at least four senior Pakistani officers killed in separate assaults since mid-July, according to reports.U.S. Response and Implications
The designations, enacted under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the move aims to cut off resources and support for the BLA and Majeed Brigade. “Terrorist designations are a critical tool in our fight against this scourge,” Rubio said, highlighting the administration’s resolve to curb extremist activities.
The FTO label imposes strict sanctions, including asset freezes and restrictions on financial dealings linked to the U.S., aiming to isolate the groups internationally.
The BLA, already listed as a terrorist organization by Pakistan, the UK, China, Iran, and the EU, accuses Islamabad of exploiting Balochistan’s oil and mineral wealth while marginalizing the ethnic Baloch population.
Pakistan Hails Decision
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti welcomed the U.S. decision, calling it a validation of Pakistan’s stance against the BLA and Majeed Brigade. “These groups have long shed innocent blood under the false cover of ethnicity and rights,” Bugti said, crediting Pakistan’s federal government and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for advocating the designation. “Terrorism is terrorism; no cause justifies killing civilians,” he added, urging global unity to combat the threat.
Posts on X echoed this sentiment, with users describing the U.S. move as a “major win” for Pakistan and a blow to alleged foreign sponsorship of the BLA, though such claims remain unverified. Who Are the BLA and Majeed Brigade?
The BLA, active since the early 2000s, seeks an independent Balochistan, a resource-rich province bordering Iran and Afghanistan. The group targets Pakistani security forces, civilians, and CPEC-related projects, which it views as exploitative.
READ MORE: Senators Condemn Killings in Balochistan
The Majeed Brigade, formed in 2010 and named after two Baloch militants, specializes in high-risk suicide missions, including attacks on the Pakistan Stock Exchange and Karachi’s Chinese consulate.
Regional Tensions and Context
The designations come amid heightened regional tensions, including Pakistan’s diplomatic victory in a Court of Arbitration ruling on August 8, 2025, which upheld its rights to the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office also rejected Indian claims of “nuclear blackmail” by Field Marshal Munir, calling them “misleading” and reaffirming Pakistan’s stance against the use of force. As the U.S. and Pakistan deepen counterterrorism cooperation, the BLA’s designation signals a broader effort to address militancy in the region. However, with Balochistan remaining a volatile hotspot, the effectiveness of these measures in curbing the insurgency remains to be seen.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for further updates.
