As Balochistan marked its 78th Independence Day on 11th August, the United States designated the Pakistan-based Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, the Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), citing its “commitment to countering terrorism.”
Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch, however, insisted that the BLA is not a terrorist group but a victim of state repression.
Several countries, including the U.K. and China, already recognise the BLA as a terrorist organisation, but none have designated it as an FTO or equivalent.
Dr. Ajai Sahni, Founding Member & Executive Director of the Institute for Conflict Management, and Editor, South Asia Intelligence Review and the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) told StratNewsGlobal that this is because the BLA poses no threat outside Pakistan. He described it as an internal insurgency arising from the denial of social, political, economic, and developmental rights to the Baloch people.
The U.S. rationale remains unclear. One of the three criteria for FTO designation is that a group’s activities must threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the United States itself. Sahni pointed out that this does not apply to the BLA, which operates only within Pakistan and has no proven links with other groups. He also noted the contrast with President Donald Trump’s earlier critical stance on Pakistan, calling the move an “abrupt transformation.”
The designation came two weeks after the announcement of a U.S.-Pakistan deal to develop “massive oil reserves.” Sahni described the timing as “significant,” suggesting the decision could facilitate closer U.S.-Pakistan engagement.
Balochistan, rich in minerals, has long been cited by Pakistani experts as holding vast oil and gas potential, left untapped due to security concerns linked to the separatist movement. The province is also key to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), but projects there have faced repeated setbacks, including the 2021 Gwadar suicide bombing and Operation Baam earlier this year. Any U.S.-Pakistan attempts to benefit from the region could encounter similar resistance.
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, FTO designation allows Washington to use measures such as the Authorisation for Use of Military Force if threats emerge against U.S. nationals, facilities, or interests abroad. This means that attacks on U.S. assets in Pakistan by the BLA could provide legal grounds for American military action, which Islamabad would be unlikely to oppose.
While Trump’s broader intentions remain uncertain, the move raises questions over whether the designation is also a signal to the Baloch not to obstruct U.S. objectives in the region.
(This article was written by Tisya Sharma, she is an intern at StratNewsGlobal)
