Washington/Islamabad, August 12, 2025: The US State Department on Monday added the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its suicide wing, the Majeed Brigade, to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs), in a move welcomed by Islamabad as a significant boost to its counter-terrorism campaign.
The designation—made under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act—means it is a crime for anyone in the US to provide material support to the groups. The Majeed Brigade was also listed as an alias under the BLA’s existing Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) status, which was first imposed in 2019.
“Since 2019, the BLA has claimed responsibility for additional attacks, including those by the Majeed Brigade,” the State Department said, citing suicide bombings near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority in 2024, as well as the March 2025 hijacking of the Jaffar Express, which killed 31 people and held over 300 hostage.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti hailed the move, saying the groups had “long shed innocent blood under the false cover of ethnicity and rights.” Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry called it a diplomatic victory for Pakistan, alleging the groups were “proxies” sponsored by India and warning that “their sponsors” should also be held accountable.
The US decision comes amid an uptick in militant violence in Balochistan, home to key China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. The BLA has intensified attacks in recent months, often directly targeting Pakistani security forces.
Pakistani officials and a recent UN Security Council report have accused the BLA of operational coordination with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), particularly through the Majeed Brigade, to carry out high-profile, complex attacks.
The announcement coincides with improving Pakistan–US relations. Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir returned from his second US visit in less than two months on Sunday, calling the trip a “new dimension” in bilateral ties. In June, Munir became the first serving Pakistani army chief to meet a sitting US president when he lunched with Donald Trump.
US Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla has praised Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner” in counter-terrorism, noting its role in capturing at least five Islamic State–Khorasan (IS-K) high-value targets since 2024.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has welcomed the United States’ decision to designate the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the banned Majeed Brigade as terrorist organizations, calling it a significant diplomatic victory for Pakistan.
In a statement on Tuesday, Naqvi expressed “heartfelt thanks” to U.S. President Donald Trump and the American administration for the move, terming it “another defeat for our eternal enemy” and “a recognition of Pakistan’s unparalleled sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.”
He said the decision would help pave the way for coordinated international action against the two militant outfits. “Pakistan–U.S. cooperation in counterterrorism is a welcome development, and a united stance against terrorists is the need of the hour,” he stressed.
The minister added that Washington’s move would contribute to promoting peace and stability in the region.
