Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri has urged the United Nations to blacklist the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), describing the group as a global terrorist threat rather than a legitimate separatist movement. She argued that an international designation would help curb the group’s financing, restrict its leadership, and strengthen regional security while protecting Balochistan’s youth.
In an opinion article, Zehri said the BLA exploits Balochistan’s widespread poverty and underdevelopment to recruit vulnerable young people. She claimed the group targets youth aged between 15 and 25 through propaganda, isolation from families, and the glorification of violence. According to her, these recruits are later used in suicide attacks by the BLA’s Majeed Brigade.
Highlighting the security situation, the senator said terrorist groups carried out 938 attacks in Balochistan during 2024, marking a 53 percent increase from the previous year. She added that fatalities rose by 80 percent to more than 1,002 people. Zehri also cited the March 2025 hijacking of the Jaffar Express, which left at least 31 people dead and saw more than 300 passengers taken hostage.
The senator argued that the BLA has evolved into an organised terrorist network with alleged external backing and growing operational links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). She referred to the Kulbhushan Jadhav case as evidence of alleged Indian intelligence links. According to her, the group’s activities extend beyond separatism and contribute to wider regional instability.
Zehri also warned that continued BLA attacks threaten strategic economic interests, including Balochistan’s mineral resources and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). She said attacks on roads, ports and energy infrastructure undermine regional connectivity and discourage international investment in Pakistan.
Referring to international counterterrorism efforts, she noted that the United States, United Kingdom and Australia have already designated the BLA and its Majeed Brigade under their domestic terrorism frameworks. However, she said a Pakistan-China proposal to list the group under the UN Security Council’s 1267 sanctions regime failed because of technical requirements related to links with Al-Qaeda or ISIL. She called on Pakistan to strengthen its case under the broader obligations of UN Security Council Resolution 1373.
Concluding her argument, Zehri maintained that international sanctions alone cannot resolve the conflict. She stressed that any global action should be accompanied by governance reforms, political inclusion, economic development and efforts to address historical grievances in Balochistan. She said such a balanced approach would help protect local communities while promoting lasting peace and stability.