The United States has announced its decision to designate the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The U.S. Department of State made this announcement, concerning the group’s operations within the southern province of Pakistan. The BLA, also known as the Majeed Brigade, has been involved in a decades-long campaign for an independent Balochistan. The FTO designation reinforces the earlier designation of the BLA as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2019.
The U.S. Department of State’s letter outlines the BLA’s involvement in terrorist acts. The BLA has claimed responsibility for several attacks since 2019. In 2024, the BLA claimed responsibility for suicide attacks at Karachi Airport and the Gwadar Port Authority complex. In 2025, the BLA claimed responsibility for the hijacking of the Zafar Express train, which was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar and resulted in the deaths of 31 civilians and security personnel. The train had over 300 passengers who were held hostage.