US Designates BLA and Majeed Brigade as FTOs
In a move with significant geopolitical ramifications, the United States has officially placed the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its affiliate, The Majeed Brigade, on the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list. While Washington frames the decision as part of its global counterterrorism policy, Baloch human rights activist Mir Yar Baloch has strongly condemned the step, asserting that the Baloch people are not terrorists but longstanding victims of Pakistan-sponsored oppression and extremism.
Decades of Persecution in Balochistan
Mir Yar Baloch underscored that for the past 78 years, Balochistan has endured what he described as Pakistan’s “state terrorism” — encompassing political suppression, economic exploitation, and severe environmental harm from nuclear testing. He further accused Islamabad of allowing extremist groups, particularly the Islamic State’s Khorasan faction (IS-K), to operate freely in the region.
Highlighting the severity of the threat, Mir revealed that IS-K recently issued a religious edict urging violence against Baloch political organizations and activists — a move he claims is orchestrated with the tacit approval of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI.
Pakistan’s Alleged Use of Extremism as a Political Tool
According to Mir, Pakistan systematically arms radical groups to silence legitimate political voices, crush democratic aspirations, and destabilize Balochistan’s pro-rights movement. He cited historical examples to argue that the Baloch have never been hostile to the United States or its allies.
During the Soviet-Afghan war and in the post-9/11 era, Mir noted, NATO supply convoys passed through Balochistan without a single attack from Baloch insurgents or civilians. Instead, he said, Pakistan’s military establishment organized anti-American rallies, even while protecting globally wanted terrorists such as Osama bin Laden, who lived undisturbed in Abbottabad for years.
Double Standards and Strategic Deception
Mir accused Pakistan of “fake jihad” against US and Western interests, betraying allies while simultaneously cultivating extremist proxies. He condemned what he called the “double standards” of labeling Baloch pro-independence movements as terrorism, while treating violent Islamist factions as “strategic partners.”
He described Pakistan as a “rogue state in military uniform” and a “persistent liability” for global peace and economic stability. According to Mir, this duplicity has eroded Islamabad’s credibility on the world stage and undermined international trust.
Call for Balochistan’s Recognition
The activist appealed to Washington to rethink its stance, arguing that an independent Balochistan could be a liberal, democratic, and stable partner aligned with US values. He contended that the region’s governance should be entrusted to its people rather than the “corrupt and self-serving” Pakistani military elite, which, he claimed, lacks legitimacy even within Pakistan.
Human Rights Abuses in the Region
Mir’s criticism is supported by ongoing reports of human rights violations in Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and widespread intimidation. Local media frequently document cases where Baloch leaders are imprisoned without due process, denied bail, and held under broad preventive detention laws. In many instances, families and legal representatives are barred from visiting detainees, in defiance of court orders.
A Call for Justice Over Political Convenience
Mir Yar Baloch’s statement challenges the prevailing global narrative by shifting the focus from militancy to victimhood — portraying the Baloch not as perpetrators but as casualties of a long-standing, state-backed campaign of suppression. His appeal to the United States is not merely about reversing a policy decision but about acknowledging a complex geopolitical reality where Pakistan’s alliance with certain extremist groups allegedly undermines both regional stability and Western security interests.
If Washington seeks a principled stance in South Asia, Mir argues, it must reconsider the designation of Baloch movements as terrorist organizations and instead support the democratic aspirations of a people who, according to him, have never raised arms against the West.
(With agency inputs)
