In a surprise diplomatic twist, the United States, along with the United Kingdom and France, has blocked a joint Pakistan-China push at the United Nations to designate the Balochistan Liberation Army and Majeed Brigade under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee. The move comes just weeks after Washington placed both groups on its own terror list, highlighting a nuanced distinction between national and international sanctions.
The decision effectively stalls Islamabad’s bid to globalise its campaign against Baloch insurgents and portray the BLA as an India-backed proxy, even as tensions in the region remain high.
Pakistan and China’s US push
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, told the Security Council that “Pakistan and China have jointly submitted to the 1267 Sanctions Committee a request to designate the BLA and Majeed Brigade. We hope the Council will act swiftly on this listing to curb their terrorist activities.” He added that multiple terrorist entities, including ISIL-K, Al Qaeda, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, East Turkistan Islamic Movement, and the BLA with its Majeed Brigade, operate from Afghan sanctuaries where more than 60 terror camps enable cross-border attacks.
The US rationale
The US reportedly argued that the 1267 sanctions regime targets entities specifically linked to Al Qaeda and ISIL, and that groups like the BLA and Majeed Brigade do not legally meet the criteria for inclusion. The UK and France supported this interpretation, while Russia has yet to take a position. Under UN procedures, the proposal is now on hold for at least six months before it can be taken up again.
The move also comes amid a significant thaw in the bilateral chill between India and the US, and the two countries negotiating a long-pending trade deal.
Political implications
The US move represents a clear setback for both Pakistan and China. A successful UN listing would have reinforced Pakistan’s repeated claims that the BLA receives support from India. Instead, the US decision delays Islamabad and Beijing’s efforts to gain international backing while maintaining the credibility of its national-level designation. This approach also mirrors China’s long-standing use of “technical holds” to block sanctions against terror groups linked to Pakistan, including leaders of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed who remain unsanctioned under the 1267 regime.
The BLA and Majeed Brigade’s record
The Balochistan Liberation Army, along with its suicide wing, the Majeed Brigade, has a long record of attacks targeting security forces and Chinese interests in Pakistan. The Majeed Brigade was formed in 2011 to carry out high-profile assaults and suicide operations. In 2024, the group claimed responsibility for attacks near the Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In 2025, it carried out the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, killing 31 civilians and security personnel while holding over 300 passengers hostage.
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