The United States officially designated the Pakistan-based Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).
The BLA had already been named a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2019 after carrying out multiple attacks. Since then, the group, including its Majeed Brigade faction, has claimed responsibility for several violent incidents, the State Department said in a statement.
The recent designation adds The Majeed Brigade as an alias under the BLA’s previous SDGT status, reaffirming the US government’s commitment to combating terrorism, as highlighted by the Trump administration.
“Terrorist designations are vital tools in our fight against terrorism, effectively cutting off support for such activities,” the State Department emphasised.
In 2024, the BLA claimed responsibility for suicide bombings near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In 2025, the group also admitted to hijacking the Jaffar Express train from Quetta to Peshawar in March, an attack that killed 31 civilians and security personnel and took over 300 passengers hostage.
