&w=3840&q=100)
After Pak Army Chief Munir's visit, US designates Baloch Liberation Army as Foreign Terrorist Organisation
The United States Department of State on Monday (August 11) announced that it has designated Pakistan-based Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its armed wing, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs).
The statement said the State Department is designating BLA and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), and adding the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLA's Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designation from 2019.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The action, it said, 'demonstrates the Trump administration's commitment to countering terrorism'.
The move comes shortly after Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, visited Washington DC and threatened to wipe out half the world with nuclear weapons.
The US State Department said that in 2024, BLA claimed responsibility for suicide attacks near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex.
In 2025, the group came into the limelight once more for orchestrating the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar in March, which resulted in the deaths of 31 civilians and security personnel, and over 300 passengers being taken hostage.
'Terrorist 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 said.
Despite such lofty statements, the US administration under President Donald Trump, continues to build closer ties with Pakistan, which has not only been on and off the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) grey list, but is also known to have given shelter to the likes of Osama Bin Laden and Hafiz Saeed.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
In fact, the warming ties between Washington and Islamabad, as well as Field Marshal Munir's second visit to the US in as many months, come despite Pakistan Army's overt support to terrorists behind the globally condemned Pahalgam terror attack. Pictures of Pakistan Army personnel attending the funerals of terrorists killed in Operation Sindoor had earlier gone viral.
Also notable is that the new designation to BLA, which Pakistan claims (without evidence) is an India-backed group, gives the powerful military man Field Marshal Munir a much-needed diplomatic win.
He, and Pakistan, had been embarrassed on the global stage when Pakistani politicians defended the TRF after it was designated a terrorist organisation. The humiliation was only compounded when India presented proof that multiple Pakistan Air Force fighter jets had been downed during Operation Sindoor.
In light of these events, a crucial question remains: Does the Trump administration truly have a 'commitment to countering terrorism' or only a relationship of convenience with the issue?
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
30 minutes ago
- Hans India
CM Hoists National Flag: Haryana to play key role in Viksit Bharat sankalp says Saini
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini participated in the state-level Independence Day celebrations in Rohtak on Friday, unfurling the tricolour and calling on citizens to turn Atmanirbhar Bharat into a 'Jan Andolan' (people's movement). Extending greetings on the 79th Independence Day, Saini noted that India has risen to become the world's fourth-largest economy and, under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi must now aspire to claim the top position. This goal, he stressed, can be realised only by turning the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision into a nationwide movement. He urged people to adopt the spirit of Vocal for Local and Local for Global, encouraging industrialists, investors, scientists, and technicians to harness their skills in the service of national self-reliance. The Chief Minister inspected the parade, took the salute, and paid homage to martyrs at the Shaheedi Smarak. Families of freedom fighters were also honoured during the ceremony, which drew a large gathering of residents and officers. He shared that the present state government has increased the pension for freedom fighters and their widows to Rs. 40,000 per month, enhanced ex-gratia for war martyrs' families to Rs 1 crore, and provided government jobs to 410 dependents. Breaking colonial shackles The Chief Minister hailed the repeal of three colonial-era criminal laws after 70 years, noting these were designed to punish and control Indians. Outdated provisions have been removed, reflecting a modern legal framework. He cited recent military operations, including Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, as evidence of India's indigenous technological and military strength, saluting the valour of the armed forces. Viksit Bharat Sankalp Saini said Haryana would play a key role in achieving the Prime Minister's vision of making India a developed nation by 2047. Haryana remains a leader in foodgrain contribution, manufacturing every second car on Indian roads and 52 percent of the country's tractors. Transparency and reform Highlighting his government's tenure, the Chief Minister said Haryana has freed citizens from discriminatory systems, rooted out corruption, and adopted a new e-governance model linking schemes to the Parivar Pehchan Patra. Over 100 government services have been digitised, ensuring transparency. The state is known nationally for merit-based recruitment, online transfers, educated panchayats, and the Antyodaya mission. Farmer welfare at the core The Chief Minister said that all crops are now procured at MSP, with Rs. 1.48 lakh crore transferred directly to 12 lakh farmers. Compensation worth Rs. 15,465 crore has been paid for crop losses in 10.5 years. The British-era abiyaana levy has been abolished, and the Agriculture Land Lease Act introduced to rebuild trust between landlords and tenant farmers. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, nearly Rs. 7,000 crore has been credited directly to farmers' accounts. Social Justice and Welfare The Chief Minister while highlighting the measures taken for social justices and welfare said that bifurcating SC reservation to benefit the most deprived, raising the OBC creamy layer income limit to Rs. 8 lakh, granting OBC-B reservation in panchayats and urban local bodies, allotting land in 1700 villages to the Prajapati community, providing Vivah Shagun of up to Rs. 71,000 under the Mukhyamantri Vivah Shagun Yojana, and constructing houses for the poor under PMAY and the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana are some of the key initiatives taken for social welfare. Besides this, he said that social security pensions have been raised to Rs. 3,000 per month, with benefits extended to 10 new disability categories, he said. Healthcare expansion The Chief Minister said that under the Ayushman Bharat–Chirayu scheme, free treatment has been provided to 22 lakh beneficiaries. Free dialysis is available for kidney patients in all government hospitals and medical colleges. Every district will have a medical college; 15 are functional and 9 are under construction. Women's empowerment The Chief Minister said that initiatives include the Lado Sakhi scheme, training women in drone operations, allotting one-third of ration depots to women, operating Atal Kisan Mazdoor Canteens and Vita outlets through women, and ensuring 50 percent representation in panchayati raj institutions. Thirty of the 80 new colleges opened in the state are for girls, who receive free education up to post-graduation, he said. Haryana redefining prosperity The Chief Minister said the last decade has been marked by inclusive growth, harmony, tolerance, and transformative changes that have made life simpler, safer, and more convenient. He assured that Haryana's future will also stand as an example of development, progress, and prosperity. On this sacred occasion, let us pledge to work tirelessly, guided by our great cultural traditions and high moral values, to build a Developed India and a Developed Haryana, he said. Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi hoisted the National Flag at his official residence in Chandigarh to mark the 79th Independence Day.
Hans India
30 minutes ago
- Hans India
US may not impose additional 25 pc tariffs on India over Russian oil, hints Trump
New Delhi: The Donald Trump administration may not impose secondary tariffs on India over purchasing Russian energy, as the US President said that Russia has already lost a key oil client. Speaking to Fox News aboard Air Force One en route to Alaska, Trump said the US may not impose secondary tariffs on countries continuing to buying Russian crude oil. "Well, he (Vladimir Putin) lost an oil client, so to speak, which is India, which was doing about 40 per cent of the oil. China, as you know, is doing a lot…,' said Trump. 'And if I did what's called a secondary sanction, or a secondary tariff, it would be very devastating from their standpoint. If I have to do it, I'll do it. Maybe I won't have to do it,' he added. The secondary 25 per cent tariffs on India are likely to come into effect from August 27. Earlier this week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said if 'things don't go well' between Trump and Putin at the Alaska summit, then secondary sanctions on India for purchasing Russian oil could go higher. Meanwhile, the government has already said the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. 'Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,' it said. The fact is that India has sharply increased its purchases of oil and gas from America. This, in turn, has led to a reduction in India's trade surplus with the US, which is a major aim of the Trump administration's trade policy. Official figures show that India's oil and gas imports from the US have jumped by as much as 51 per cent from January to June this year. The country's liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from the US nearly doubled to $2.46 billion in the financial year 2024-25 from $1.41 billion in 2023-24. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured in February that India would increase energy imports from the US to $25 billion in 2025 from $15 billion in 2024 to help reduce the trade deficit of the US. This was followed by Government-owned Indian oil and gas companies entering into discussions for more long-term energy purchases from the US companies. New Delhi has also made it clear that it was diversifying its sources of energy imports to reduce dependence on Russian oil. New Delhi has also made it clear that India and the US share a very important strategic relationship that goes beyond trade.
New Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Coimbatore dentist held in 2016 Malappuram arms case is a terrorist, says NIA
KOCHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said that Dr Dinesh D, a Coimbatore-based dentist, is a hard-core terrorist who underwent training in sophisticated weapons, including automatic rifles, to further the activities of the banned terrorist organisation CPI (Maoist) as part of a larger conspiracy to wage war against the nation. The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had arrested him in 2021 from a clinic at Edayarpalayam, Coimbatore, where he was working as a dentist. The NIA stated that Dr Dinesh, the fourth accused, and the other accused persons had voluntarily convened a meeting and training camp in September 2016 in the reserve forest of Karulai in Malappuram district. During the camp, they handled arms, including automatic rifles, the central agency said while opposing the accused's bail plea before the Special Court for NIA cases in Kochi. Considering the gravity of the offence, the court recently dismissed the bail plea. Challenging the decision, the accused has approached the Kerala High Court, where the matter is pending consideration. According to the bail order, the Kerala Police and ATS Kerala had arraigned 25 accused in the case. Of these, eight have died in different incidents and four remain absconding. The ATS filed a chargesheet against five accused before the District and Sessions Court, Manjeri, on May 18, 2021. On August 19, 2021, the Union government directed the NIA to take over the investigation and the case was re-registered. The NIA investigation revealed that the accused persons numbered 1 to 28 had conspired with the proscribed organisation and conducted or attended training camps at various places in India to further its activities. The accused's counsel submitted before the Special Court that he has been in detention for more than four years and four months in connection with the case. Given the large number of documents, material objects, and witnesses, the trial is unlikely to be completed in the near future. It was argued that such prolonged custody violates the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
