US designates BLA, Majeed Brigade as terror organisations

The United States has designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its militant faction, the Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), the State Department announced on Monday.

The decision also adds the Majeed Brigade as an alias to the BLA’s previous listing as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group. The BLA was first designated as an SDGT in 2019 and has since claimed responsibility for several attacks, including suicide bombings carried out by the Majeed Brigade.

In 2024, the group said it was behind suicide attacks near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex.

Earlier this year, it claimed responsibility for the March hijacking of the Jaffar Express train from Quetta to Peshawar, which left 31 people dead, including civilians and security personnel, and saw more than 300 passengers taken hostage.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the designations reaffirm Washington’s commitment to countering terrorism and serve as an effective means to disrupt support for such activities.

The move follows Pakistan’s repeated calls, most recently in July, for the US to classify the BLA and Majeed Brigade as terrorist entities. Islamabad has accused the groups of carrying out attacks with the backing of India’s intelligence agency, a charge New Delhi has denied.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office has stated that the country remains a frontline state in the fight against terrorism and has contributed significantly to global counter-terrorism efforts.