Pakistan, US reiterate commitment to counter BLA, TTP

Pakistan and the United States have reaffirmed their resolve to work closely in multilateral platforms, including the United Nations, to advance effective and lasting strategies for counterterrorism.

The joint statement was issued a day after Washington designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its affiliate, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) for their continued involvement in deadly attacks across Pakistan.

According to the statement, the latest round of the Pakistan–U.S. Counterterrorism Dialogue was held in Islamabad on Tuesday, where both sides reiterated their shared commitment to eliminating terrorism in all its forms.

The meeting was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Special Secretary for the United Nations, Nabeel Munir, and the U.S. Department of State’s Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Gregory D. LoGerfo.

Both delegations stressed the need for effective strategies to address threats from groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), ISIS-Khorasan, and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The U.S. commended Pakistan’s ongoing successes in curbing terrorist networks that threaten regional and global peace and security.

It also extended condolences over the loss of civilians and law enforcement personnel in recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan, including the brutal Jaffar Express attack and the bombing of a school bus in Khuzdar.

Both delegations emphasized the importance of building stronger institutional frameworks and developing capabilities to respond to security challenges and to counter the use of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.

Reaffirming the long-standing partnership between Pakistan and the United States, both sides emphasized that sustained and structured engagement remains vital to countering terrorism and promoting peace and stability.

Earlier, In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation, saying the BLA and the Majeed Brigade are now listed as FTOs under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and Executive Order 13224.

The Majeed Brigade has also been added as an alias to BLA’s previous designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity.

The BLA was originally designated as an SDGT in 2019 following multiple terrorist incidents.

Since then, the group, including its Majeed Brigade faction, has claimed responsibility for several high-profile attacks.

In 2024, the BLA claimed suicide bombings near Karachi Airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex.

In March 2025, it took responsibility for hijacking the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, an attack that killed 31 civilians and security personnel and involved over 300 hostages.

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