Washington, D.C. — The United States has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its suicide attack wing, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), according to a statement released by the US State Department on Monday.
Under the new designation, the Majeed Brigade has also been listed as an alias for the BLA, which was first labeled a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group in 2019. Since that initial listing, the BLA has been linked to numerous deadly assaults across Pakistan, many of them executed by the Majeed Brigade.
Deadly Attacks in Karachi, Gwadar, and Quetta
In 2024 alone, the group claimed responsibility for high-profile suicide bombings near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. Earlier this year, it also admitted to orchestrating the March hijacking of the Jaffar Express train, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, which left 31 people — including civilians and security personnel — dead, and over 300 passengers held hostage.
US Pledge to Counter Terrorism
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision reflects Washington’s firm commitment to combating terrorism globally. “Such measures disrupt networks and cut off support for violent extremist activities,” he stated.
This move follows a formal request by Pakistan, reiterated in July, urging the US to blacklist the BLA after Washington designated The Resistance Front as a terrorist entity for its alleged role in the April 22 attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 people.
Pakistan Blames Indian Backing
Islamabad has accused the BLA and its Majeed Brigade faction of operating with support from India’s intelligence agency RAW, a claim New Delhi denies. Pakistani officials refer to these groups as Fitna al-Hindustan, accusing them of carrying out anti-state operations to destabilize Balochistan and other regions.
The Foreign Office reiterated in July that Pakistan remains a frontline state in the fight against terrorism and has made significant contributions to global peace and security through its counter-terrorism efforts.
According to intelligence sources cited by The News, RAW has been activating its proxies in Gwadar, Quetta, and Khuzdar to incite violence and sabotage economic projects in the province.
Praise from Balochistan Leadership
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti welcomed Washington’s decision, commending the federal government and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir for effectively presenting Pakistan’s case during recent high-level meetings in the US.
“The BLA and Majeed Brigade have spilled innocent blood under the guise of rights and ethnicity,” Bugti said, emphasizing the urgent need for global unity against terrorism.
