The United States has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its militant wing, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTO). The Majeed Brigade has also been added as an alias of the BLA under the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) category, further tightening restrictions on the group.

Announcing the decision, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the BLA has continued its violent activities since 2019, claiming responsibility for several high-profile attacks carried out by both its main force and the Majeed Brigade. The US had first listed the BLA as an SDGT in 2019 for its involvement in a series of deadly terrorist incidents.

According to the US State Department, the BLA claimed responsibility for suicide bombings in 2024 near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In one of its most brutal acts, the group hijacked the Jaffar Express train in March 2025, travelling from Quetta to Peshawar. The attack left 31 civilians and security personnel dead and saw more than 300 passengers taken hostage before security forces intervened.

The State Department said these violent acts have endangered civilians, destabilised the region, and targeted critical infrastructure. “Today’s action shows the Trump Administration’s commitment to countering terrorism. Such designations are key to cutting off funding, restricting movement, and reducing support for terrorist groups,” the statement read.

With the FTO tag, the US government can freeze the group’s assets, prosecute those who provide it with material support, and coordinate with other countries to dismantle its global network. The BLA, which is also banned in Pakistan, has been fighting a decades-long armed insurgency, demanding independence for Balochistan, a mineral-rich province in southwestern Pakistan. The group has targeted Pakistani security forces, infrastructure projects, and Chinese nationals working in the region, opposing Beijing’s investments under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Earlier this year, the US also declared The Resistance Front (TRF) – an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba – as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people. This move against the BLA and Majeed Brigade signals Washington’s growing concern over militancy in South Asia and its intent to curb groups that threaten regional security and international interests.