Pakistan and China have taken a strong step at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by submitting a joint request to declare the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its suicide wing, known as the Majeed Brigade, as terrorist entities. The move has been placed before the UNSC’s 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee, which has the authority to ban groups linked with terrorism worldwide.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, said that terrorist outfits, including the BLA and its Majeed Brigade, operate from Afghan sanctuaries. He stated that more than 60 training camps across the border are serving as bases for launching cross-border attacks.
Pakistan currently serves as a non-permanent member of the 15-member UNSC for the 2025-26 term, while China sits as a permanent member with veto powers. This collaboration between the two countries underlines the seriousness of their demand to restrict the BLA and its networks.
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BLA and Its Majeed Brigade’s Deadly Attacks
The Balochistan Liberation Army is not a new name in the list of dangerous groups. The group was already declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization by the United States in 2019 after carrying out several deadly operations. Its Majeed Brigade, formed in 2011, is considered the suicide squad of the BLA. This wing has often targeted security personnel and Chinese projects in Pakistan.
According to the US State Department, the BLA has continued to claim responsibility for violent actions even after the 2019 designation. In 2024, the group said it carried out suicide attacks near Karachi airport and at the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. The following year, in March 2025, it shocked the country again when its fighters hijacked the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar. That attack killed 31 people, including civilians and security staff, and over 300 passengers were held hostage.
Because of such repeated acts of violence, Pakistan and China are pressing the United Nations to include the BLA and its suicide wing in the global terrorist list. This step, if approved, would bring sanctions against the group, including freezing its assets, banning travel for its leaders, and cutting off access to weapons.
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Global and Regional Concerns Over Terrorism
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed highlighted that terrorism emanating from Afghanistan remains the gravest threat to Pakistan’s national security. He urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to fulfill their international counter-terrorism obligations.
The Majeed Brigade, with its focus on suicide missions, has been linked with some of the deadliest strikes in recent years. It is accused of specifically targeting projects involving Chinese nationals and investments, especially those connected with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). These attacks have strained security in the region and increased calls for stronger action against such outfits.
Last month, the United States also strengthened its stance by adding the Majeed Brigade as an alias to the BLA’s existing terror designation. The US government said the decision was part of its ongoing commitment to fight terrorism. With this update, both the BLA and the Majeed Brigade are recognized internationally as dangerous networks with a record of suicide bombings and hostage crises.
The joint request at the UN by Pakistan and China aims to add the group to the 1267 Sanctions Committee’s official list, which already includes major global terror organizations. If the UNSC accepts the proposal, it will mark another strong step in the international effort to curb their activities and limit their ability to carry out more deadly attacks.