The United States has blocked a joint Pakistan–China proposal at the United Nations to designate the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its suicide wing, the Majeed Brigade, under the UN Security Council’s 1267 terror sanctions regime, marking a significant diplomatic setback for Islamabad and Beijing. According to reports, Washington argued that there was insufficient evidence linking the two Baloch groups to Al‑Qaeda or the Islamic State, a mandatory requirement for listing under the UN framework.
The move aligns with India’s long‑standing position that Pakistan frequently misuses global counterterrorism mechanisms to target groups involved in its internal insurgencies, rather than internationally linked terror outfits. The US decision came after months of deliberations, during which Washington first placed a technical hold on the proposal for six months, later extending it for another three.
Pakistan had intensified diplomatic efforts at the UN following the Pahalgam attack and India’s Operation Sindoor, attempting to portray the BLA and Majeed Brigade as internationally connected terror organisations. Reports suggest the push was part of Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s broader strategy to frame India as a sponsor of terrorism — a narrative New Delhi has consistently rejected.
India, meanwhile, secured support from the US and France, both of which agreed that the evidence presented did not meet the threshold for UN designation. The United Kingdom also backed the American position, while Russia remained silent, likely due to its close strategic partnership with China.
With the US now formally informing UNSC members of its final stance, the proposal has effectively reached an impasse. Pakistan is reportedly exploring alternative UN mechanisms to pursue action against the groups, though experts say such attempts are unlikely to succeed without meeting evidentiary standards.