Major win for Pakistan as US designates BLA, Majeed Brigade as terrorist groups

Pakistan scored a major breakthrough in its long and grueling fight against terrorism when the United States formally designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its suicide attack wing, the Majeed Brigade, as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs).

The move, announced late Monday, marks a significant step in counterterrorism cooperation between Washington and Islamabad, especially following Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s second high-level visit to the U.S. in six weeks. Analysts view the trip as a turning point in the current phase of U.S.-Pakistan relations.

Kamran Khan, in his vlog, said the designation empowers U.S. authorities to take decisive legal action against the group’s facilitators and financiers, while working directly with Pakistani law enforcement under a formal legal framework.

Unlike a symbolic label, the FTO classification is issued only when a terrorist group is deemed a direct threat to U.S. citizens or national security. It allows Washington to criminalize material support, weapons supply, training, or other assistance to the group, while enabling deportations, visa denials, and heavy penalties for violations.

In 2019, the U.S. State Department had listed the BLA as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity, criminalizing support for its militants. At that time, however, the Majeed Brigade was not included.

In Monday’s announcement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited BLA’s responsibility for multiple high-profile attacks, including 2024 suicide bombings near Karachi Airport and at the Gwadar Port Authority complex. The group was also blamed for the 2025 hijacking of the Jaffar Express train, which left 31 civilians and security personnel dead and over 300 passengers taken hostage.

The Jaffar Express incident is considered one of the most severe acts of terrorism worldwide in recent years. The State Department said the designations reflect America’s firm resolve to eliminate terrorism.

Khan noted that the development aligns U.S. policy with Pakistan’s longstanding ban on the BLA and sends a clear message to China that Washington will not tolerate attacks on CPEC projects, law enforcement, or Pakistan’s economic infrastructure.

The BLA is widely regarded as the most dangerous separatist outfit in Balochistan, heavily reliant on suicide missions by the Majeed Brigade. Its strategy has targeted major political and economic assets to undermine Pakistan’s stability. Since 2018, it has repeatedly struck Chinese citizens, CPEC sites, and key financial hubs.

Pakistan has long accused the BLA of operating as a proxy for India, frequently presenting evidence of alleged Indian backing. In April, military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry publicly revealed what he called solid proof of Indian state-sponsored terrorism in Balochistan.

That same month, Army Chief Munir told a gathering that “the enemies of Pakistan are mistaken if they think a handful of terrorists can dictate the country’s destiny,” vowing that “even generations of terrorists cannot harm Balochistan or Pakistan.”

The group’s attacks have repeatedly targeted Chinese nationals, CPEC assets, the Pakistan Stock Exchange, and security installations to maximize diplomatic, economic, and media impact.

Among its claimed operations: the November 2018 assault on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi; the May 2019 suicide attack on Gwadar’s Pearl Continental Hotel; the June 2020 strike on the Pakistan Stock Exchange; the February 2022 assaults on military posts in Noshki and Panjgur; and the April 2022 suicide bombing at Karachi University that killed three Chinese teachers and a Pakistani driver.

More recently, in October 2024, a suicide bombing near Karachi Airport killed two Chinese engineers. Throughout 2024 and 2025, the BLA continued targeting Chinese convoys and CPEC-linked personnel.

Khan said the U.S. decision underscores that the BLA is not just a threat to Pakistan but to regional peace and development.