U.S. Designates Majeed Brigade as Terrorist Organization

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The United States Department of State on Monday announced the designation of The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

In a statement released on August 11, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the designation.

According to the statement, The Majeed Brigade has also been added as an alias to the BLA’s existing designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

The State Department noted that the BLA was initially designated as an SDGT in 2019 following a series of terrorist attacks. "Since 2019, BLA has claimed responsibility for additional attacks, including by the Majeed Brigade," the statement from Secretary Rubio read.

The official communication highlighted several attacks claimed by the BLA.

In 2024, the BLA asserted responsibility for suicide attacks near the airport in Karachi and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex, the State Department said.

The statement also referenced the BLA's claim of responsibility for the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train in March 2025, a journey from Quetta to Peshawar, which resulted in the deaths of 31 civilians and security personnel and the holding of over 300 passengers hostage.

"Today’s action taken by the Department of State demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to countering terrorism," Secretary 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."

The Department of State confirmed that these actions were taken under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and Executive Order 13224, as amended.

It was also noted that FTO designations become effective upon their publication in the Federal Register.