URGENT UPDATE: The United States has just designated the Pakistan-based separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade suicide attack unit as foreign terrorist organizations. This significant announcement was made on August 11, 2023, by the State Department, marking a critical escalation in the U.S. response to terrorism in the region.
This designation comes after the BLA was previously labeled as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2019. The Majeed Brigade is particularly notorious for conducting suicide attacks on behalf of the BLA, which operates primarily in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, seeking independence from the Pakistani government.
The urgency of this designation is underscored by the alarming rise in violence attributed to the Baloch insurgency this year. Notably, on March 11, the BLA hijacked a Jaffar Express passenger train, taking 400 people hostage and resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 26 hostages. The group has also been linked to multiple suicide attacks targeting both the Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex, frequently focusing on Chinese workers and enterprises, as the BLA opposes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated,
“Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities.”
This broader designation bars U.S. citizens from any support for the BLA, amplifying the implications of their previous SDGT status.
The implications of this move are profound, as it not only affects the BLA but also signals the U.S. commitment to combating terrorism in South Asia. The new designation arrives nearly a month after the State Department labeled the Resistance Front as a front and proxy for the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, showcasing a focused strategy against terrorist networks in the region.
As the situation develops, the international community is watching closely. The U.S. actions aim to disrupt the operational capabilities of groups like the BLA, which have increasingly posed threats to regional stability and international interests.
Stay tuned for updates on this urgent situation as more details emerge.
