US terror tag for BLA: Why the Baloch group is waging war against Pakistan army

In March 2025, the BLA hijacked the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express from Quetta, killing 31 civilians.

The United States has classified the Pakistan-based Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organisations.

The Majeed Brigade was also added as an alias to the BLA’s previous Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) classification. The USA had designated BLA as an SDGT in 2019 after several terrorist attacks.

"Today, the Department of State is designating The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), and adding the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLA's previous Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designation," the department said in a statement as quoted by ANI.

According to the department, the action reflected President Donald Trump’s administration’s commitment to "countering terrorism.

What is BLA?

The BLA emerged in the early 2000s, as an ideological successor to the Independent Balochistan Movement of 1973 to 1977. Balochistan has witnessed at least five separatist uprisings since Pakistan’s formation in 1947. The Baloch are a Sunni Muslim ethnic group who live on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border, and also in parts of southern Afghanistan.

Analysts studying Baloch resistance movements say it was led by Balach Marri, son of veteran Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri.

However, the rebellion intensified in 2006 after the Pakistan government, under military ruler Pervez Musharraf, killed prominent Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.

The BLA’s funding sources remain unclear. However, according to Al Jazeera, analysts suggest multiple revenue streams, including illicit activities such as extortion, smuggling and drug trafficking.

The group has been responsible for numerous attacks on Pakistani security forces, government installations and Chinese-backed projects.

What is BLA’s demand?

Balochistan with roughly 15 million is spread over vast areas of arid desert. However, it is Pakistan’s largest province by size and has untapped mineral resources.

The BLA has been saying for years that members of the province face discrimination and exploitation by the central government. Reko Diq and Saindak, both in its Chaghi district, have major gold and copper deposits. The province also has iron ore, lead, zinc, and coal deposits. The BLA has claimed that the Pakistan is exploiting these resources, which belong to the native population.

It has demanded a greater share of the province’s gas and mineral resources and independence from Pakistan.

BLA’s proximity to India

In May, Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch announced that Balochistan is independent from Pakistan. He had urged India and its media not to call the Baloch people “Pakistan’s own”.  After India’s success in Operation Sindoor in May 2025, the BLA had expressed hope that India’s growing military power and global influence could help their cause, a News 18 report said.  They also urged the Indian government to extend moral and diplomatic support to Balochistan.

The report further cited a BLA representative saying that India’s victory was a blow to both Pakistan and China. It was said that there was clear involvement of the latter in Balochistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). According to CNN-News18, the BLA urged India to highlight human rights abuses, including the killings in Balochistan, before the international community.

Impact of US action on BLA

The US State Department said the BLA claimed responsibility for suicide attacks near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex in 2024. It also added that in March 2025, the group hijacked the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express from Quetta, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and taking over 300 passengers as hostages.

The move can be seen as a support for Pakistan’s position against the BLA.  Islamabad has long accused the BLA of terrorism.  While Pakistan’s security forces have obtained mixed results when reacting to Baloch militant groups’ attacks, the prevention and containment of BLA’s major operations have not been much impacted by Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts.