The United States has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This decision, announced by the U.S. Department of State, targets the group operating in Pakistan’s southern province. The BLA, also known as the Majeed Brigade, has been engaged in a long-standing struggle for an independent Balochistan. This FTO designation marks a further escalation in the U.S. stance, building upon the prior designation of the BLA as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2019.
The U.S. Department of State’s letter details the BLA’s involvement in various terrorist activities. The BLA has claimed responsibility for several attacks since 2019. Notably, the BLA claimed responsibility for suicide attacks at Karachi Airport and the Gwadar Port Authority complex in 2024, and the hijacking of the Zafar Express train in 2025, which was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar. The train hijacking resulted in the deaths of 31 individuals, including civilians and security personnel, with over 300 passengers held hostage.