Australia has imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions on the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and three of its senior leaders, citing their involvement in and support for violent attacks across Pakistan.
Announcing the decision on Friday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the group had carried out “violent terror attacks” targeting civilians, critical infrastructure, foreign nationals, and the Pakistani state. She reiterated that Australia’s commitment to countering terrorism and violent extremism remained “unwavering”.
According to the Australian government, the sanctions are designed to disrupt financial networks that enable militant activity. Wong said such measures make it more difficult for designated groups to fund operations, recruit members, and disseminate what she described as “harmful ideology”. She also stressed that Australia would continue working with international partners to dismantle networks that threaten global security.
Under the sanctions regime, it is a criminal offence in Australia to deal with the assets of listed individuals or entities, or to make assets available to them. Violations can result in substantial fines and prison sentences of up to ten years.
The BLA has been accused by Pakistan of orchestrating a series of deadly attacks in Balochistan, including coordinated strikes across multiple towns in January that reportedly killed dozens of civilians and security personnel. Pakistani authorities have also linked the group to the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train in March 2025, an incident in which hundreds of passengers were taken hostage before security forces conducted an operation that left the attackers dead.
Pakistan has long urged the United Nations Security Council to formally designate the BLA as a terrorist organisation under its sanctions framework, arguing that the group poses a significant threat to regional stability. Islamabad has also welcomed similar actions taken by other countries, including the United States, which previously designated the BLA and its Majeed Brigade faction as foreign terrorist entities.
Australian authorities said their latest measures reflect a targeted and proportionate approach aimed at supporting international peace and security. Officials emphasised that the sanctions are part of broader efforts to restrict the operational capacity of militant organisations and strengthen global counterterrorism cooperation.