U.S. designates Balochistan Liberation Army as Foreign Terrorist Organisation

The U.S. on Monday (August 11, 2025) designated Pakistan-based Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.

BLA was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2019 following a number of terrorist assaults. Since then, the group has claimed accountability for a number of assaults, together with by the Majeed Brigade, the State Department mentioned in an announcement.

The assertion mentioned the State Department is designating BLA and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), and including the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLA’s earlier SDGT designation. The motion, it mentioned, “demonstrates the Trump administration’s dedication to countering terrorism”.

“Terrorist designations play a vital position in our battle in opposition to this scourge and are an efficient method to curtail help for terrorist actions,” the State Department mentioned.

The division additional mentioned that in 2024, BLA claimed accountability for suicide assaults close to Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex.

In 2025, the group mentioned it was behind the hijacking of the Jaffar Express practice travelling from Quetta to Peshawar in March, which resulted within the deaths of 31 civilians and safety personnel, and over 300 passengers being taken hostage.