Pakistan Welcomes US Terrorist Designation for Baloch Separatist Groups

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI – August 12, 2025 — Pakistan has welcomed the United States’ decision to designate the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade faction as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, calling it an important step toward strengthening global counterterrorism efforts.

The US State Department announced the designation on Monday, citing a series of deadly attacks carried out by the groups, including the March 2025 hijacking of the Jaffar Express, which left 31 dead and over 300 passengers briefly held hostage, and the May bombing of a school bus in Khuzdar that killed at least 10 people, most of them children.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the decision recognized the country’s role as “a steadfast bulwark against terrorism” and highlighted sacrifices made for “regional stability and global security.” The BLA has also targeted Chinese nationals working on infrastructure projects in Balochistan, a province bordering Iran and Afghanistan and home to major China-led investments.

Washington said the designation would help curb financial and logistical support to the groups. The move follows a rise in militant violence in Balochistan, which Islamabad has linked to foreign interference from India and Afghanistan — accusations both countries deny.

Pakistan had already banned the Majeed Brigade in July 2024 and reiterated its resolve to eliminate terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations” while cooperating with international partners.