Posted on August 17, 2025
Karachi:
A few days before the inauguration of President Donald Trump for the second term, a senior Pakistani diplomat informed a group of people, including experts and journalists in Islamabad. His approach was in the Pakistan-United States relationship under the administration of Trump. The conclusion was: Pakistan should be prepared for a difficult challenge.
According to the diplomat, Trump’s team was surrounded by people who had little sympathy for Pakistan. Experts and those who understand Trump, as well as the nature of the ties of Pakistan-United States, echoed similar feelings. There was a consensus that despite Trump’s unpredictable nature, there was little or no space for better perspectives of the United Pakistan ties. On the contrary, everyone agreed that the relationship between the United States and India would only deepen the second mandate of President Trump.
But when President Trump delivered a single speech to the United States Congress, he praised Pakistan. This was an achievement since until then he did not save anyone. He launched a diatribe against friends and enemies. Pakistan was the only exception, which Trump mentioned positively.
His praise arose from Pakistan’s assistance to stop one of the key intellectual authors of the bombing of the Puerta de la AbadÃa in Kabul in August 2021. Muhammad Sharifullah, one of the ISIS-KHORASAN agents and, according to the United States, one of the facilitators of the Kabul airport, was arrested in the intelligence provided by the CIA and Swiftly Handled a Handly to Handly to US.
This cooperation not only obtained praise from Trump’s Pakistan, but also opened a communication channel that would eventually lead to the Syed field marshal also to be invited to launch into the White House in a turn of unprecedented events.
When Trump applauded Pakistan in the United States Congress, people were still skeptical that this bonhomie would be short duration since Trump cannot be trusted. Were questions about what Pakistan had offered or was going to offer the United States in exchange for this United States approach? Many people also wonder if Pakistan would get something in return. But what happened in recent weeks after high -level exchanges and frequent interactions between the two countries was that Trump’s praise was not mere rhetoric, but now reflects a change in the United States policy.
The substantive result of Pakistan that helped Trump move forward in his domestic agenda by arresting the bombing facilitator of the Abbey Gate was the United States Department of State Department to declare the Baluchistan Liberation Army and its Majeed Suicide Brigade as a terrorist team. The designation of Bla and the Majeed Brigade, as foreign terrorist organizations (FTO), was a great victory for Pakistan.
Islamabad had long sought his list but with little success. The United States declared that Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a terrorist outfit, but the successive US administrations refrained from adopting a similar position against active groups in Baluchistan. One of the reasons included that such groups, including Bla and Majeed Brigade, were pointing not only for Pakistani interests, but also mainly Chinese interests in the province of Baluchistan rich in resources.
This in many ways probably served the agendas of those who do not want the Belt and Road initiative of China (BRI) to succeed. That was the reason why the United States’s decision was extraordinary.
The United States not only listed the Bla and Majeed Brigade, but also seems to be ready to extend Cooperation to Pakistan to fight them. The two countries had an anti -terrorism dialogue, a regular characteristic, in Islamabad recently. The remarkable change was that for the first time Bla reached the joint statement.
Both delegations underlined the “critical importance” of the development of effective approaches to terrorist threats, pointing out the BLA along with transnational outfits. Washington praised Islamabad’s “continuous successes” by containing entities that threaten regional and global peace. Therefore, the list of the Bla and Majeed Brigade is a development that entails legal, political, diplomatic and operational implications for Pakistan, the United States and even India.
First, any funds or ownership of Bla or Majeed brigade in the jurisdiction of the United States is now frozen. Members and affiliates are prohibited from entering the United States. Providing material support to the group is now a serious federal crime of the United States, even for people outside the United States if they have US connections. The designation makes it more difficult to raise funds internationally through charity organizations, frontal companies or sympathetic diaspora groups.
The FTO label makes it more risky for members to travel abroad or seek asylum in countries aligned with US anti -terrorism policies. The United States can now share intelligence with Pakistan and allies to track, interrupt or eliminate group cells. Sympathizers based in the Diaspora in the West could face monitoring and prosecution. If Bla finds safe shelters in neighboring states, including Afghanistan, the United States list presses those governments to take measures or face reputation costs.
While the designation will not end the insurgency, it can weaken its external support structure, especially for high profile suicidal attacks such as those of the Majeed brigade.
Secondly, Pakistan has long stated that Bla is a terrorist group backed by abroad responsible for attacks in Baluchistan. The designation of the United States is an international support of that position.
Third, India has openly supported Baloch separatists. The United States movement indicates that Washington is not aligning with New Delhi on this issue.
Fourth, this list highlights a heating security relationship between Pakistan and the United States.
Fifth, in silence, this could create discomfort in New Delhi if the United States anti -terrorist measures begin to expose any Indian contacts with Baloch separatists. It is not said publicly, but the United States movement could also be linked to its great interest in non -exploited mines and mineral resources available in abundance in Baluchistan. But security is a great challenge.
Some see the interest of the United States in mines and minerals with suspicion. However, the opinion, in the official Pakistani circles is that US investment in Baluchistan could stabilize the situation and can establish the bases for long -term cooperation between the two countries. The list of the Bla and Majeed brigade is seen in that context.
