On August 11, the U.S. State Department announced it was designating the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its armed wing, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) effective immediately, while also listing the Majeed Brigade as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group (SDGT).
In a detailed commentary, the widely followed WeChat account 后沙月光 (Moonlight After the Storm) interprets this move as a major blow to India, which has covertly backed BLA operations against Pakistan and Chinese interests, particularly targeting the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The author argues that Washington’s action effectively removes one of India’s most important tools for destabilizing Pakistan and obstructing CPEC.
Although this development objectively benefits China and Pakistan, the commentary stresses that the U.S. motivation lies in its own strategic recalibration—prompted by worsening U.S.–India relations, strains over India’s intelligence activities in Canada, and shifting U.S. priorities in South Asia. The piece also traces the history of BLA and the Majeed Brigade, their links to Indian intelligence, and their record of deadly attacks on Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan:
- 2022 Karachi University Bombing: A suicide attack on Confucius Institute staff killed 4, including 3 Chinese educators.
- 2023 Gwadar Port Attack: An assault on Chinese engineers was foiled by Pakistani security forces.
- 2024 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bombing: A car bomb killed 5 Chinese workers.
The author also warns that while the U.S. move temporarily aligns with Pakistani and Chinese counterterrorism goals, Washington is politically fickle; the current “counterterrorism window” may be short-lived. The commentary urges Pakistan to act decisively within the next three years to eliminate these militant groups before geopolitical winds shift again.
Why Is This Important?
The timing is no coincidence. As the author points out, with the U.S.-India relations deteriorating, Washington’s decision sends a clear signal: America knows India has been backing BLA. If New Delhi continues covertly funding these groups, it risks being labeled a “state sponsor of terrorism”, joining the likes of Iran under heavy U.S. sanctions.
