The United States Department of State has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its faction, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs). The move imposes strict sanctions and legal consequences on the groups, aiming to choke off their funding, resources, and international support.
In a statement issued Monday, the State Department said, “Today, the Department of State is designating The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), and adding the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLA’s previous Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designation.”
The BLA was first designated as an SDGT in 2019 following a series of violent attacks. Since then, the group has continued its militant activities, often through the Majeed Brigade, which is notorious for suicide bombings.
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Deadly Attacks And Escalating Violence
According to US officials, the BLA has claimed responsibility for several high-profile incidents in recent years. In 2024, the group carried out suicide attacks near Karachi airport and at the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In 2025, it claimed responsibility for the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar. That attack left 31 civilians and security personnel dead and more than 300 passengers held hostage.
The Majeed Brigade, regarded as the BLA’s suicide attack unit, has been directly linked to many of these operations, further prompting its formal inclusion under the BLA’s FTO designation.
US Policy And Counterterrorism Efforts
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised that the designations reflect Washington’s ongoing resolve to combat terrorism. “Since 2019, BLA has claimed responsibility for additional attacks, including by the Majeed Brigade. Today’s action demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to countering terrorism,” Rubio said.
He stressed that FTO designations are a vital tool to limit the operational and financial reach of such groups. The designation, made under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register.