The United States has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, the notorious Majeed Brigade, as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).
In a move to solidify this status, the Majeed Brigade has been added as an alias to the BLA’s already existing specially designated global terrorist (SDGT) status.
This designation was declared on a momentous Monday by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It builds upon the BLA’s initial listing as an SDGT back in 2019, a decision made in response to a series of devastating and deadly terrorist attacks. Since that pivotal time, the group has continued to assert its presence by claiming responsibility for numerous assaults, many executed with precision by the Majeed Brigade.
In the passing year of 2024, the BLA took responsibility for the chilling suicide attacks near the bustling Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. Earlier, they also claimed the harrowing March hijacking of the Jaffar Express, a train journeying from Quetta to Peshawar, tragically resulting in the deaths of 31 civilians and security personnel, with over 300 passengers held captive.
Secretary Rubio emphasized that this move highlights the Trump Administration’s unwavering resolve to combat the menace of terrorism. ‘Terrorist designations play a vital role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective means to curtail support for terrorist activities,’ he declared with conviction.
These designations were enacted under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, along with Executive Order 13224, as revised, and are poised to take effect upon their official publication in the Federal Register.
Reacting to this development, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti voiced support for the US State Department’s resolution to list the BLA as a foreign terrorist organization. ‘We wholeheartedly welcome the US decision to classify the BLA and its alias Majeed Brigade as terrorist entities,’ he stated expressively on his official social media platform.
‘Credit goes to the Federal Government and Field Marshal Asim Munir for adeptly presenting Pakistan’s case to the US administration,’ the statement further acknowledged.