WASHINGTON (Kashmir English): The United States has designated the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Majeed Brigade, its militant faction, as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), the US Department of State said on Monday.
Earlier in 2019, the US designated BLA as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group for carrying out multiple attacks against civilians and state institutions.
The US State Department, in a statement, also announced adding the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLA’s previous SDGT designation.
Since its listing as SDGT, the BLA, including the Majeed Brigade, has carried out multiple suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices (IED) attacks in Balochistan and other cities, including Karachi.
“Recently, the BLA took responsibility for hijacking a Pakistani Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar in March, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and holding over 300 train passengers hostage,” US State Secretary Marco Rubio said in a statement.
In 2024, the group claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide attacks near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex, the statement read.
Rubio said the designations reaffirm the Trump administration’s commitment to countering terrorism. He added that such measures are an effective way to disrupt support for terrorist activities.
“Today’s actions are taken pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and Executive Order 13224, as amended. FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register.”
The FTO designation by the Washington triggers restrictions on providing financial support and other aid to the group.
The listing of BLA and its Majeed Brigade was a demand from Pakistan, most recently in July, after the US designated The Resistance Front as a terrorist organisation over its alleged involvement in the April 22 attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that killed 26 people.
Pakistan has termed BLA and Majeed Brigade Fitna al-Hindustan, saying that the insurgent groups are conducting their anti-state activities with India’s backing.
