The United States has added the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its militant wing, the Majeed Brigade, to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs), the State Department announced on Monday.
The BLA was already designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group in 2019, but the new move formally lists it under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Majeed Brigade — the BLA’s suicide squad — has also been recognised as an alias under the existing SDGT designation.
According to the State Department, the BLA and Majeed Brigade have carried out multiple deadly attacks in recent years. In 2024, they claimed suicide bombings near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In March 2025, the Majeed Brigade hijacked the Jaffar Express train from Quetta to Peshawar, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and taking over 300 passengers hostage.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision underscores President Donald Trump’s commitment to combating terrorism. “Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities,” he stated.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti welcomed the designation, crediting the federal government and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for effectively presenting Pakistan’s case in Washington. “These groups have long shed innocent blood under the false cover of ethnicity and rights. The world must unite to end this menace,” Bugti said.
We welcome the US decision to designate BLA & its alias Majeed Brigade as terrorist outfits. Credit to the Federal Government & Field Marshal Asim Munir for presenting Pakistan’s case to the US administration. These groups have long shed innocent blood under the false cover of… https://t.co/Udd3wGIUY0
— Sarfraz Bugti (@PakSarfrazbugti) August 11, 2025
The announcement comes as Islamabad-Washington ties show signs of improvement, with Field Marshal Munir completing his second visit to the US in six weeks.