The United States has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its faction, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs), intensifying its counterterrorism stance in the region. The decision, announced on Monday (August 11), follows years of violent attacks attributed to the group, including recent high-profile incidents.
The BLA was first labelled a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity in 2019 after a string of deadly assaults. Since then, the outfit has claimed responsibility for further attacks, many of which were carried out by the Majeed Brigade, its suicide attack unit. The US State Department stressed that the latest classification underscores Washington’s continued determination to disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks.
“This designation reflects our ongoing commitment to combating terrorism,” the State Department said in a statement. “Such measures are a key tool in preventing support, both financial and logistical, from reaching terrorist organisations.”
The designations, made under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, take effect once published in the Federal Register. Being listed as an FTO imposes strict legal penalties on anyone providing material support to these groups, while also freezing any US-based assets.
A History of Violence
The BLA, a separatist militant group operating mainly in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, has long been linked to insurgent activities against the state. In 2024, the group claimed responsibility for suicide bombings near Karachi airport and at the Gwadar Port Authority Complex — two strategically sensitive locations.
More recently, in March 2025, the BLA carried out one of its deadliest attacks in recent years, hijacking the Jaffar Express train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar. The incident resulted in the deaths of 31 civilians and security personnel, with over 300 passengers held hostage before being released. The bold and brutal nature of the attack drew widespread condemnation both domestically and internationally.
The Majeed Brigade, named after BLA’s founding members, has been responsible for numerous high-casualty suicide operations, often targeting Pakistani security forces and strategic infrastructure.
Part of a Wider Counterterrorism Sweep
The announcement comes just weeks after the US designated The Resistance Front (TRF) — a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy operating in Jammu and Kashmir — as both an FTO and an SDGT. The TRF had claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in India, which killed 26 people, including tourists.
According to the State Department, TRF and its aliases have been formally added to Lashkar-e-Taiba’s existing terrorist designations, and the LeT’s status as an FTO has been reaffirmed after review.
The US says such actions are essential to cutting off the channels that allow these groups to recruit, plan, and execute attacks. By expanding the list of designated organisations, Washington aims to increase the political and financial cost of supporting violent extremist movements.
While Pakistan has long urged international recognition of the threat posed by Baloch separatist militants, the latest US move could have broader diplomatic implications, particularly in the security cooperation framework between the two countries.
