US lists BLA and Majeed Brigade in Pakistan as terrorist groups
The United States has officially listed Pakistan’s Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its militant arm, the Majeed Brigade, as terrorist organizations, citing a series of deadly attacks that have targeted civilians, security forces, and strategic infrastructure in recent years.
In a statement issued Monday, the US State Department accused the BLA of orchestrating high-profile assaults, including suicide bombings near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex in 2024, as well as the March 2025 hijacking of the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar. That train attack left 31 people dead — both civilians and security personnel — and saw more than 300 passengers taken hostage before security forces intervened.
“Today’s action reflects the Trump Administration’s determination to combat terrorism in all its forms,” the State Department said. “Designating terrorist groups is a critical tool to cut off their funding and operational capabilities.”
Under the designation, the BLA, the Majeed Brigade, and anyone found supporting them face sanctions that block access to the US financial system, freeze assets under US jurisdiction, and prohibit transactions with American individuals or entities.
The BLA, which was first added to the US terrorist list in 2019, is also banned in Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Islamabad has long accused India of providing covert support to the group — an allegation New Delhi strongly rejects.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has endured unrest for more than six decades. Separatist groups like the BLA claim the region was forcibly annexed into Pakistan in 1947, a year after the end of British colonial rule. They demand either full independence or greater autonomy, citing political marginalization and exploitation of the province’s rich natural resources, including gas, minerals, and a strategic coastline.
In recent years, the insurgency has escalated, with militants increasingly targeting Chinese projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), viewing them as symbols of outside exploitation. The Majeed Brigade, in particular, has become known for its suicide attacks on security installations and foreign nationals working in the province.
US officials say the new designation aims to restrict the groups’ ability to raise funds internationally and send a clear warning to those who provide them with logistical or financial support.
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