US declares Balochistan Liberation Army, Majeed Brigade as ‘foreign terrorist organisation’

The United States on Monday officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, the Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). The Majeed Brigade was also added as an alias to the BLA’s previous Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) classification.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the move in a press statement, saying the designation was part of Washington’s broader efforts to curb terrorism financing and operational support networks.

The BLA has been under US scrutiny for years. It was first designated as an SDGT in 2019 after being linked to a series of terrorist incidents. Since then, the group has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks, including suicide bombings and high-profile assaults carried out by the Majeed Brigade.

According to the State Department, the BLA claimed responsibility for suicide attacks in 2024 near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In March 2025, the group admitted to hijacking the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar — an incident that killed 31 civilians and security personnel. More than 300 passengers were held hostage during the attack.

“These violent actions have continued to threaten the security of civilians and disrupt stability in the region,” the statement noted.

“Today’s action taken by the Department of State demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to countering terrorism. Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities,” the statement added.

The FTO designation has legal and financial consequences. It allows the US government to block assets linked to the group, criminalise material support, and work with international partners to disrupt its operations.

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