Pakistan welcomes US ‘foreign terrorist organization' designation for Baloch separatist groups

Arab News

2 days ago

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Pakistan on Tuesday welcomed the United States administration's decision to designate the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade faction as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, describing Islamabad's counterterrorism efforts against militant violence as a bulwark that has helped secure global peace and stability.
The BLA, which also uses the alias of The Majeed Brigade, is the most prominent of separatist groups in Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan and is home to key China-led infrastructure projects, including a port and a gold-copper mine.
The US State Department made the proclamation about the separatist militant outfit a day earlier while citing a list of attacks claimed by its top leaders.
In March, the group claimed responsibility for the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and holding hostage over 300 train passengers.
It was also blamed for ramming an explosive-laden vehicle into a school bus in Khuzdar in May, resulting in the deaths of at least eight children along with the bus driver and a conductor.
'BLA/Majeed Brigade is involved in multiple terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including the heinous Jaffer Express terrorist incident and Khuzdar bus attack that resulted in the loss of precious lives,' the foreign office in Islamabad said in a statement.
'Pakistan remains a steadfast bulwark against terrorism," it added. "Our sacrifices have secured critical counter-terrorism successes, not only for the country, but for regional stability and global security.'
The BLA has also targeted Chinese nationals working on strategic infrastructure development, industrial, educational and power generation projects in different parts of Pakistan.
The State Department quoted Secretary Marco Rubio in a statement as saying the US decision demonstrated Washington's "commitment to countering terrorism."
'Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities,' he added.
The US designation of BLA and Majeed Brigade as terrorist entities can be pivotal in restricting financial support and other aid to these groups.
The US move comes amid a spike in militant violence in Pakistan's Balochistan, which Islamabad has blamed on India and Afghanistan. New Delhi and Kabul deny the allegation.
Pakistan had already proscribed the Majeed Brigade as a terrorist entity in July 2024.
The foreign office said the country 'remains unwavering in its resolve to protect its citizens and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations' and 'committed to cooperating with the international community to overcome this common challenge.'
Separatist groups operating in the mineral-rich region of Balochistan accuse the central government of exploiting the province's resources to fund development elsewhere in the country.
The federal government denies the allegations and says it is working for the uplift of local communities in Balochistan.