- June 6, 2026
Big Blow To Pakistan & China: US Blocks Bid To List Balochistan Liberation Army Under UN Terror Regime
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Following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, Pakistan intensified efforts to secure international action against the BLA and the Majeed Brigade.
Major Setback for Pakistan, China as US Blocks UN Terror Listing of Baloch Groups. (ANI)
In a big setback for Pakistan and China, the United States has blocked a joint proposal by Pakistan and China to designate the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Majeed Brigade under the United Nations 1267 terror sanctions regime.
Washington reportedly took the position that there was no evidence linking the two groups to Al Qaeda or the Islamic State (ISIL), a requirement for inclusion under the UN 1267 sanctions framework. The decision is also being observed as an important political message, as it aligns with India’s position on terrorism and eases concerns about any possible shift in Washington’s approach towards Pakistan on such issues.
What was Pakistan’s motive?
Designation under the UN 1267 Al Qaeda and ISIL sanctions regime was a key element of Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s efforts to build a narrative portraying India as a sponsor of terrorism. Munir has previously described Baloch groups as “Fitna-al-Hindustan” within Pakistan.
Following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, Pakistan intensified efforts to secure international action against the BLA and the Majeed Brigade.
After the United States designated The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a foreign terrorist entity last July, Pakistan used its improved access to the Trump administration to lobby for similar action against the two Baloch organisations.
The US subsequently designated them domestically. Encouraged by that development, Pakistan joined hands with China to seek their inclusion under the UN 1267 sanctions regime.
India secures US support
According to an Economic Times report, India, with support from France, persuaded the United States to place a technical hold on the proposal at the UN Security Council. The US reportedly argued that there was no clear evidence connecting the BLA or the Majeed Brigade to either Al Qaeda or ISIL. The initial hold was imposed for six months and was later extended for another three months.
The report said the United States has now finalised its position and informed other members that it will block the proposal. France and the United Kingdom reportedly supported the American stance, while Russia remained silent during the process because of its close ties with China.
Proposal reaches dead end
With the proposal effectively stalled, Pakistan is now exploring other UN sanctions mechanisms through which the BLA and the Majeed Brigade could potentially be designated.
The US decision is also being interpreted as a signal that Washington does not wish to be seen aligning with China’s position on terrorism-related matters.
China’s record at the UN
China has repeatedly blocked or delayed joint India-US efforts to designate individuals linked to Pakistan-based terror organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Even now, three LeT operatives – Sajid Mir, Shahid Mehmood and Talha Saeed – have not been listed under the 1267 regime because of Chinese objections.
Abdul Rauf Asghar, who was reportedly killed in India’s strikes on Bahawalpur during Operation Sindoor, was also the subject of a joint India-US proposal in 2023 that China blocked through a technical hold.
Reports said the United States maintained throughout the current case that the UN 1267 sanctions regime is specifically designed for entities linked to Al Qaeda and ISIL, and that the BLA and the Majeed Brigade do not legally qualify for inclusion under that framework.
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