Islamabad – Pakistan and China have made a joint petition to the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council to label the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Majeed Brigade as a terrorist group in a major diplomatic move.
BLA and the Majeed Brigade have been associated with a sequence of assaults on civilians, security forces, and most importantly, the Chinese nationals and projects in the province of Balochistan in Pakistan.
This bilateral diplomacy in the United Nations sheds light on the strategic role of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the will of both nations to ensure the success of their investments.
The Rationale Behind the UN Submission
The 1267 Sanctions Committee is an influential UN body, and it has a list of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
An international designation of this committee would expose the BLA and Majeed Brigade to international sanctions, such as asset freeze, travel bans, and arms embargo. This would severely limit their operational capabilities, funding, and international recruiting efforts.
China’s decision to co-sponsor this request is particularly noteworthy. Beijing has made significant investments in Balochistan as part of the CPEC, a flagship project of its Belt and Road Initiative.
The corridor includes the development of Gwadar Port, a strategic deep-sea port that connects China to the Arabian Sea. However, these projects have been consistently targeted by militant groups who view them as an exploitation of local resources.
The BLA, in particular, has claimed responsibility for several high-profile attacks on Chinese engineers and workers, creating a major security challenge for both countries.
For China, the designation is a practical step to protect its massive financial and strategic interests in the region.
It signals to the international community that attacks on its projects and personnel are not merely a domestic issue for Pakistan but a matter of international terrorism that warrants a global response.
A Shared Threat to Economic and Regional Stability
The joint submission reflects a shared understanding between Islamabad and Beijing that the stability of Balochistan is paramount to the success of their long-term economic partnership.
The Pakistani government has long been engaged in a difficult and costly counterinsurgency effort in the province. But the presence of foreign funding, training, and logistical support for these militant groups has complicated these efforts.
The UN designation would provide a new tool in this fight by isolating the groups on the international stage.
The Majeed Brigade, a suicide squad of the BLA, has been responsible for some of the most audacious attacks on Chinese targets. The group has shown a willingness to strike at the very heart of the economic corridor, including attacks on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi and the Gwadar Pearl Continental Hotel.
The Path Forward
The joint request will now be considered by the 15 members of the UN Security Council. While the strong backing of a permanent member like China gives the submission considerable weight, it will still require careful diplomatic navigation.
The outcome will not only impact the two militant groups but will also be a test for the effectiveness of the 1267 Committee in addressing non-traditional terrorist threats.
For Pakistan, a successful designation would be a major diplomatic victory, bolstering its narrative that it is a victim of cross-border terrorism. It would also serve as a warning to other extremist organizations operating within its borders that a global effort is underway to dismantle them.
For China, it would be a crucial step toward safeguarding its investment and ensuring the long-term viability of the Belt and Road Initiative, a project central to its foreign policy ambitions.
