Washington, D.C., August 11 — In a major counter-terrorism move, the U.S. Department of State has formally designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its militant wing, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The decision reinforces the BLA’s 2019 designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity, and now explicitly lists the Majeed Brigade as a known alias operating under its banner. The Department cited a pattern of escalating violence and high-profile attacks carried out by the group in recent years as the basis for the updated classification.
Since its original designation, the BLA has continued to orchestrate deadly attacks, with the Majeed Brigade emerging as a key operational arm specialising in suicide missions and hostage-taking. Notably:
In 2024, the BLA claimed responsibility for suicide bombings near Karachi Airport and at the Gwadar Port Authority Complex, targeting critical infrastructure in Pakistan’s southern economic corridors.
In March 2025, the group executed a highly coordinated hijacking of the Jaffar Express, a passenger train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar. The attack resulted in the deaths of 31 civilians and security personnel, and the hostage-taking of more than 300 passengers, including women and children.
“This designation is a direct reflection of the [then] Trump Administration’s unwavering commitment to countering terrorism in all its forms,” the Department stated. “Terrorist designations remain one of our most effective tools for disrupting support networks and cutting off financial flows to violent groups.”
The BLA has long promoted a separatist ideology, with a history of targeting both Pakistani civilians and state institutions, particularly in the Balochistan region. By officially designating the Majeed Brigade alongside the BLA, the U.S. aims to close the legal and financial loopholes often exploited by such groups operating under multiple names.
These designations, made under Executive Order 13224, as amended, take effect immediately upon their publication in the Federal Register.
