Balochistan Liberation Army Added to State Department's List of 'Terrorist Organizations'

The Department of State has announced the designation of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its faction, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs). The Majeed Brigade has also been listed as an alias under the BLA’s existing Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) status, which was first imposed in 2019 following multiple attacks.

According to the order issued by the Department of State, the BLA has claimed responsibility for several deadly incidents since 2019, including attacks carried out by the Majeed Brigade.

These include suicide bombings in 2024 near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In 2025, the group claimed responsibility for hijacking the Jaffar Express train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar, killing 31 civilians and security personnel, and holding over 300 passengers hostage.

The Department said the decision, taken under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, demonstrates the Trump Administration’s resolve to combat terrorism. “Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities,” the statement read.