NEW YORK, Sept 20: The United States, France, and the United Kingdom have placed a “technical hold” on Pakistan’s proposal to designate the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its offshoot, Majeed Brigade, as terrorist groups under the UN Security Council’s 1267 sanctions committee, officials said.
Despite support from China, Pakistan’s bid was stalled as the three permanent UNSC members argued the BLA had no proven links with Al Qaeda or ISIL—criteria necessary for listing under the 1267 framework.
Pakistan’s UN envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmed had urged swift action on the joint Pakistan-China request, citing the BLA’s repeated attacks, including suicide bombings near Karachi airport, the Gwadar Port Authority Complex, and the hijacking of the Jaffar Express in March this year that killed 31 people.
The US State Department had already designated the BLA and Majeed Brigade as Foreign Terrorist Organisations on August 11, adding to their earlier classification as Specially Designated Global Terrorists in 2019.
Unless Islamabad provides fresh evidence linking the groups to Al Qaeda or ISIS, the proposal is unlikely to move forward. The “technical hold,” which typically lasts six months, reflects a shift in Washington’s position, backed by Paris and London.
India is monitoring the development closely, as Pakistan has repeatedly accused New Delhi—charges India denies—of backing the BLA in Balochistan. (Agencies)
