Pakistan hails designation of BLA, its alias Majeed Brigade as terror outfit by US

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formally welcomed the United States’ decision to designate the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). The announcement was made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio just ahead of a Counter-Terrorism Conference held in Islamabad.

US Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Gregory D. LoGerfo, met with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss the dialogue. “The foreign minister encouraged sustained bilateral engagement on counterterrorism between both countries, as a vital contributor to peace and stability in the region and beyond,” the Foreign Office stated after the meeting.

The State Department’s announcement came while Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was in the United States. His visit included attending a farewell for US Central Command Commander General Michael Kurilla, who has previously described Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner” in counter-terrorism efforts.

The Foreign Office highlighted that Pakistan had already proscribed the Majeed Brigade as a terrorist entity on July 18, 2024. The statement noted, “BLA/Majeed Brigade is involved in multiple terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including the heinous Jaffer Express terrorist incident and Khuzdar bus attack that resulted in the loss of precious lives.”

Pakistan reassured the international community of its steadfast commitment to combating terrorism and emphasized that its sacrifices have secured critical counter-terrorism successes for the country, the region, and global security. “Pakistan remains unwavering in its resolve to protect its citizens and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We remain committed to cooperating with the international community to overcome this common challenge,” the statement added.

In a separate development, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, chaired a meeting to review proposals for strengthening cooperation with friendly countries.

The meeting focused on identifying initiatives to deepen mutual engagement across various sectors, including trade, investment, education, health, connectivity, culture, and agriculture.