On August 11, 2025, the US State Department labelled BLA and the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
The BLA (Balochistan Liberation Party) has claimed responsibility for multiple deadly incidents
The move, aims to cut off the group’s international operations.
The United States has stepped up its counterterrorism efforts against the Pakistan-based Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), formally designating the group and its alias, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).
The announcement was made on Monday, August 11, 2025, by the US State Department, which also listed the Majeed Brigade as an alias under the BLA’s existing Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) status, which it has held since 2019 because of several terrorist attacks.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move reflects the Trump administration’s “commitment to countering terrorism” and aims to cut off the group’s ability to operate internationally. “Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to limit support for terrorist activities,” he said.
The BLA, which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Pakistani government, has claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks in recent years. This includes the March 2025 hijacking of the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express train from Quetta, which killed 31 civilians and security personnel and held over 300 passengers hostage. Another incident was the suicide bombings near Karachi airport and at the Gwadar Port Authority Complex.
Balochistan—Pakistan’s largest but poorest province—is rich in natural resources but has long been mired in poverty, political unrest, and accusations of exploitation by Islamabad. The province is strategically significant, home to the deep-sea port at Gwadar, a key link in connecting southwestern China to the Arabian Sea.
The new FTO designation, made under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, carries tougher consequences than the group’s previous SDGT status. While the earlier designation mainly targeted financial networks, the FTO label makes it a federal crime for anyone in the US to provide material support to the group.
The decision also comes during a period of closer engagement between Washington and Islamabad. In June, President Donald Trump hosted Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House, with discussions reportedly focusing on economic cooperation, including in Pakistan’s natural resources sector and emerging cryptocurrency industry.
Last month, the US also labelled The Resistance Front (TRF)—a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba—as both an FTO and SDGT. TRF claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people.
BLA-linked violence has fuelled ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India, with Islamabad accusing New Delhi of backing the insurgents—allegations India denies.
The State Department stressed that the designations take effect upon publication in the Federal Register and are intended to limit both the operational reach and international support of these militant groups. [Rh/VP]