Mastung— Pakistani security forces killed four terrorists in Balochistan’s Mastung district during an intelligence-based operation (IBO), the military’s media wing said on Friday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was launched after intelligence confirmed the presence of terrorists linked to Fitna al-Hindustan, a term Pakistan uses for militant groups operating in Balochistan that it accuses India of sponsoring.
“During the conduct of operation, own forces effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense fire exchange, four Indian-sponsored terrorists were sent to hell,” the ISPR said. It added that the area was later sanitised to eliminate any remaining threats. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered.
BLA Attacks and U.S. Designation
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), long accused by Pakistan of orchestrating violence across the province, has targeted security forces, Chinese convoys, gas pipelines, highways, and projects linked to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
In a major diplomatic breakthrough, the United States on August 11, 2025, formally designated the BLA and its suicide wing, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs). Islamabad welcomed the move as a diplomatic victory, after years of lobbying for the BLA to be globally recognised as a terrorist group.
Pakistan had proscribed the Majeed Brigade in July 2024 and the BLA itself in 2006. Following Pakistan’s move, the United Kingdom also banned the BLA in July 2006 under its Terrorism Act. The US had earlier listed the BLA only as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity in 2019, a step that froze assets and criminalised US assistance but fell short of the tougher FTO designation, which imposes broader financial and travel restrictions under Section 219 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.
Record of Violence
The BLA and Majeed Brigade are accused of major terrorist attacks in Pakistan:
- March 2025: Jaffar Express attack, killing at least 26 hostages.
- May 2025: Khuzdar suicide attack on a school bus, killing 10, including two students.
- 2024: Karachi airport attack that killed three people, including two Chinese nationals.
- 2024: Gwadar Port Authority Complex assault that left eight soldiers dead.
The group has also used female suicide bombers, further intensifying concerns about its tactics.
Pakistan’s Stance and the US Cooperation
While the BLA presents itself as a movement for Baloch rights, Islamabad stresses its involvement in kidnappings, extortion, and civilian killings proves it is a terrorist outfit, not a legitimate political struggle.
The US State Department said FTO designations are an effective tool to restrict international support for terrorist groups and pressure them to abandon violence. Analysts view the move as part of renewed US–Pakistan counterterrorism cooperation.
Security sources credited the Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir’s recent US visit with reinforcing Pakistan’s case and “exposing India’s involvement in state-sponsored terrorism” through military diplomacy.
Also see: Pakistan’s Asim Munir to Attend CENTCOM Event in Rare Back-to-Back US Visits
Symbolic and Strategic Impact
Beyond its legal implications, the US designation provides symbolic legitimacy to Pakistan’s narrative, acknowledging its sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. Experts argue that defeating the BLA will require not only robust security measures but also political and developmental initiatives to address longstanding grievances in Balochistan.
