The United States State Department has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). This announcement, made on Monday, August 11, 2025, by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, criminalizes any support provided to these groups within the US.

The BLA was initially listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity in 2019 following a series of terrorist attacks. Since then, the group, including its Majeed Brigade affiliate, has claimed responsibility for further violent incidents. These include attacks near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex in 2024, and the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train in March 2025, resulting in the deaths of 31 civilians and security personnel and the hostage-taking of over 300 passengers.

Secretary Rubio emphasized that this designation underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to combating terrorism, stating that such actions are crucial in curtailing support for terrorist activities.

The decision has been welcomed by Pakistani officials, including Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, who attributed the success to the efforts of the Pakistani federal government and Field Marshal Asim Munir in presenting Pakistan’s case to the US administration. Bugti condemned the BLA and Majeed Brigade for their violence against civilians, emphasizing that no cause justifies such actions.

This move comes amidst increased engagement between the Trump administration and Pakistan, following a period of strained relations under the previous Biden administration. The designation also follows the Trump administration’s designation of another group, blamed for an April attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, an accusation Pakistan denies. Pakistan had previously urged the international community to include the Majeed Brigade on international terrorist lists.