The United States has formally designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its militant wing, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations in response to their involvement in March’s Jaffar Express train hijacking in Pakistan.
In a statement, the U.S. State Department said the move aims to block the group’s access to global financing and restrict its operations abroad. Washington cited the BLA’s history of violence, including bombings in Karachi and Gwadar in 2024, as well as the March attack in which militants seized the passenger train and held hundreds hostage. The incident left more than 30 people dead and many others injured, according to Pakistani and U.S. officials.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry praised the designation, calling it a “timely and important step” in the fight against terrorism. Officials said it reflects growing counterterrorism cooperation between Islamabad and Washington, especially in addressing threats emerging from Balochistan.
On March 11, 2025, armed militants stopped the Jaffar Express on its Quetta–Peshawar route and forced it into a mountainous tunnel. Passengers were held hostage for hours until security forces launched a rescue operation. The standoff ended with dozens of militant casualties and the release of most hostages, though soldiers and civilians were also killed.
The BLA has been waging a decades-long insurgency in Balochistan, demanding greater autonomy and opposing what it claims is exploitation of the province’s natural resources. Pakistan has banned the group domestically, while the U.S. had already listed it as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity in 2019. The latest designation increases financial penalties and travel bans and is meant to cut off any international support networks.
Security analysts say the U.S. decision could enhance Pakistan’s efforts to disrupt militant funding and send a strong diplomatic signal to allies that both countries remain committed to stability in the region.
