The US Department of State has designated the Balochistan Liberation Army and its suicide unit, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, a move that freezes their US-linked assets, criminalises material support and imposes travel bans on their members. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision underscores Washington’s commitment to counterterrorism. Washington cited a string of attacks claimed by the separatist group, including the March 2025 hijacking of the Jaffar Express train in Balochistan that left 31 civilians and security personnel dead and more than 300 passengers briefly held hostage. The BLA was already on a lower-tier sanctions list; elevating it to FTO status aligns US policy with Pakistan’s longstanding demand for tougher action. The announcement came as Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, concluded his second visit to the United States in less than two months. Munir met US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, attended the change-of-command ceremony for outgoing CENTCOM chief General Michael E. Kurilla in Tampa and invited senior American officers to visit Pakistan, signalling a thaw in defence relations. Islamabad welcomed the terrorist listing, calling it a diplomatic success that will strengthen efforts against the insurgency in mineral-rich Balochistan, where multi-billion-dollar Chinese infrastructure projects are under way. Pakistani officials also expressed hope the US decision will pave the way for similar action at the United Nations.