United States designates Balochistan Liberation Army affiliate group, Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organization. A press release from US State Department blasted on almost all local news channels early morning in Pakistan. Another diplomatic win came for Pakistan as its efforts towards peace building are recognized once again. United States and Pakistan have been strategic partners for decades. Their collaboration for counter terrorism efforts reach far beyond the two decades of Global War on Terror (GWOT). However, when this war came to its end in August 2021, with US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Taliban takeover of Kabul, the bi-lateral relations between the two states became estranged. After a hiatus of almost four years, bilateral strategic ties have restored with focus on counterterrorism efforts. US not only recognizes but appreciates Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts. This shift in US stance is visibly evident since the beginning of 2025.
Pakistan as a victim of terrorism for more than two decades always pursued United States to declare terror groups operating from inside Pakistan as proscribed organizations. Though much efforts, Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was listed as Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on 1 September 2010 and on 2 July 2019 Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) was listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). On 11 August 2025, US designated BLA and its suicide squad Majeed Brigade as FTO as well. This step marked a significant milestone in Pakistan’s long-standing campaign to secure global recognition of BLA as a terrorist group that has been responsible for decades of violence in Balochistan. The province has been marred by instability and violence for decades hindering any development in the region. As China launched China -Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) anchoring it in sea port of Gwadar city in Balochistan, Pakistan saw it as an opportunity that would address the grievances of the locals. However, terrorist groups have ensured that instability in the region prevails, strengthening their narrative of marginalization. It continues the viscous cycle of manipulation, underdevelopment and terrorism making BLA successful while state efforts take a back seat.
It is vital to understand the origin of Balochistan Liberation Army. BLA is a group that continues to project itself as separatist fighting for the rights and independence of Baloch. However, the reality is far from the narrative it aims to promote using social media platforms as a tool. It emerged in the early 2000s, as a militant wing of the politician Harybyar Marri and transformed into a terrorist group. BLA was involved in extortions, kidnappings for ransoms, target killings, attacks on gas pipelines and small-scale blasts. In 2006, when Nawab Akbar Bugti from Dera Bugti was killed in action with state, BLA rose as one of the most prominent ethnic groups claiming to represent sentiments of all Baloch tribesmen in Pakistan, it vowed to avenge Nawab Akbar Bugti. Under the guise of this incident, BLA launched attacks against state institutions, law enforcement agencies and security forces which also extended to the Chinese convoys and engineers working on development projects in Balochistan. Gradually getting bold, BLA attacks started to get more frequent and lethal leading to suicide attacks. In 2018, first suicide attack in Balochistan by BLA was recorded in August 2018. A truck laden with explosives collided with a bus carrying Chinese engineers in Dalbandin, Chaghi. The attack was orchestrated by Rehan Baloch, son of the BLA chief, Aslam Baloch alias Achhu. Aslam used his son as an example and set this incident as a motivation for members of BLA. This operation was successful as it set a series of suicide attacks by the suicide faction of BLA, Majeed Brigade, commemorating the first ever suicide bomber of BLA. From 2018 till 2025, BLA became lethal with increasing terror attacks on security forces, development projects and Chinese convoys working on CPEC projects. Its activities increasingly included suicide attacks with female suicide bombers becoming a distinctive feature of BLA activities. These terror activities pose great threat to regional stability, development and foreign investments.
The US move of designating BLA and its faction Majeed Brigade as FTO, marks a significant shift in Washington’s counterterrorism calculus. It reflects a broader recognition of the transnational security risks posed by terrorist groups active in Balochistan. For Washington, it signals responsiveness to Pakistan’s counterterrorism concerns at a time when US policymakers seek to reset ties with Islamabad after years of mistrust following its withdrawal from Afghanistan. Nevertheless, the designation appears to be part of a broader strategy of re-engagement with Pakistan that balances counterterrorism cooperation.
The US decision to blacklist BLA and Majeed Brigade offers Pakistan a diplomatic and symbolic victory. It provides long-sought international legitimacy for its claim that BLA is not a political movement but a violent extremist organization undermining state stability.
However, the designation intersects with broader geopolitical considerations as Balochistan remains a conflict-ridden geopolitical theater. Proscribing BLA as terror group will limit its financial channels spread globally but it may not necessarily reduce their operational capacity. BLA heavily relies on local support networks and external safe havens. Its ability to recruit, sustain propaganda and conduct asymmetric attacks means Pakistan will still face significant challenges in neutralizing the group despite international recognition. Moreover, the narratives of victimhood and marginalization in Balochistan remain potent drivers of manipulation leading to terrorism. It requires political and developmental responses alongside military and security measures. Ultimately, this move will only become successful depending upon if Pakistan and its international partners can devise policies that integrate security measures to undercut terrorist narratives. Only then can the BLA’s cycle of violence be sustainably broken.
