INTERNATIONAL: US Blocks Pakistan-China Move to Sanction Baloch Liberation Army
UN Blocks Terror Designation Bid
In a recent move at the United Nations Security Council, the United States, United Kingdom, and France placed a technical hold on a joint proposal from Pakistan and China.
The bid sought to list the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its suicide squad, the Majeed Brigade, under the UN’s 1267 sanctions regime for terrorist entities.
Officials cited insufficient evidence as the reason for the hold, preventing the groups from facing global asset freezes and travel bans.
US Labels BLA as Foreign Terrorist Group
Just weeks earlier, the US State Department took a contrasting step by designating the BLA and Majeed Brigade as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on August 11, 2025.
This domestic label allows the US to impose sanctions, freeze assets, and prosecute supporters within its jurisdiction.
The decision underscores Washington’s view of the BLA as a threat, even as it questions the UN-level evidence.
Pakistan and China’s Push for Action
Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed highlighted the urgency during council discussions, noting that groups like the BLA operate from Afghan bases alongside outfits such as ISIL-K and Al-Qaeda.
He pointed to over 60 terrorist camps enabling cross-border strikes and urged swift measures to curb their activities.
China supported the proposal, aligning with its interests in regional stability amid investments in Pakistan.
Surge in BLA Attacks
The BLA has intensified operations in recent times, claiming responsibility for multiple assaults across Pakistan.
In August 2024, a coordinated wave of attacks in Balochistan killed dozens, targeting security forces and infrastructure.
Earlier in 2025, militants hijacked a passenger train from Quetta to Peshawar, holding hundreds hostage before a military rescue operation freed them, though it resulted in 31 deaths among civilians and soldiers.
Key Incidents Highlighting Tensions
- A 2024 strike on the Gwadar Port Authority disrupted operations at a key economic site.
- An attack on Karachi’s airport vicinity aimed at disrupting air travel.
- Suicide bombings by the Majeed Brigade have claimed lives in urban centers, fueling calls for stronger countermeasures.
Roots of the Baloch Insurgency
The BLA emerged around 2000 as a separatist force pushing for an independent Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area.
Locals have long protested resource exploitation, with the region holding vast reserves of oil, natural gas, coal, gold, and copper.
This economic disparity has sustained decades of unrest, blending nationalist demands with armed resistance against central authority.