Washington : The United States has designated the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its “suicide unit,” the Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), while also listing the Majeed Brigade as an alias to the BLA’s existing status as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity.
In a statement issued Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision reflects the administration’s “commitment to countering terrorism,” adding that such designations “play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities.”
The State Department noted that the BLA was first designated as an SDGT in 2019 after claiming responsibility for several attacks. It said the group has since carried out additional operations, including suicide bombings attributed to the Majeed Brigade.
According to the statement, in 2024 the BLA claimed responsibility for suicide attacks near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority complex. In 2025, the group said it was behind the March hijacking of the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, which left 31 civilians and security personnel dead and more than 300 passengers held hostage.
The State Department said, The designations were made under Section 219 of the US Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, and will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register.
