A joint proposal by Pakistan and China to have the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its specialised unit, the Majeed Brigade, added to the United Nations Security Council’s 1267 sanctions list has been temporarily delayed after the United States, the United Kingdom and France placed a technical hold on the request.
The proposal was submitted to the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee, the body responsible for imposing sanctions on individuals and organisations associated with Al-Qaeda, Islamic State (IS) and affiliated entities. Inclusion on the list can result in asset freezes, travel bans and arms embargoes being applied internationally.
According to diplomatic sources, the three Western powers requested additional information and evidence before a decision could be taken on the proposal. As a result, the application has been placed on hold rather than being approved or formally rejected.
Under UN procedures, a technical hold is a temporary measure that allows member states to seek further clarification, consult with other governments, or review additional evidence before reaching a final decision. During this period, the proposal remains under consideration.
No formal objections to the technical hold have been reported from other members of the Security Council committee.
Neither the United States, the United Kingdom nor France has publicly provided a detailed explanation for the decision. However, diplomatic observers note that technical holds are commonly used when committee members believe further evidence or consultation is required before a sanctions designation can proceed.
The development represents a setback for Pakistan and China, which have long sought stronger international action against Baloch armed groups. Both countries have repeatedly raised the issue in international forums, particularly in the context of attacks claimed by the BLA against Pakistani security forces and Chinese interests linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
China has significant investments in infrastructure and energy projects in Pakistan, including developments associated with the port city of Gwadar. Several attacks targeting Chinese nationals and projects in recent years have heightened Beijing’s security concerns and increased its calls for international action against groups it considers responsible.
Analysts note that the technical hold does not necessarily reflect support for the BLA or the Majeed Brigade. Rather, it indicates that some committee members believe the current submission requires further scrutiny before meeting the standards necessary for inclusion under the UN sanctions regime.
The decision also highlights the distinction between national and international terrorist designations. On 8 August 2025, the United States designated both the BLA and the Majeed Brigade as Foreign Terrorist Organisations under US law. However, designation under the UN system requires a separate multilateral process and agreement among Security Council members.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) previously rejected efforts to designate it as a terrorist organisation and criticised the United States’ decision to place the group and its Majeed Brigade unit on its Foreign Terrorist Organisation list in August 2025.
In a statement issued at the time, the organisation said:
“The decision by the United States to designate the Majeed Brigade, the Baloch Liberation Army’s specialised unit, as a foreign terrorist organisation is an example of an international power turning away from realities on the ground and implicitly endorsing a colonial narrative. We view this decision neither with surprise nor as a source of new pressure. The Baloch Liberation Army is a resistance force engaged solely against the military occupation of its homeland and is fighting exclusively for the freedom of Balochistan.”
The group’s spokesperson further stated:
“It is a fact that Pakistan occupied Balochistan by force in 1948, and the BLA represents a continuation of the resistance that emerged from that event. We are not a temporary political reaction or a limited group phenomenon, but a historical, national and defensive reality. The BLA is the armed expression of Baloch national aspirations and does not depend on external recognition or international endorsement.”
Pakistan, meanwhile, maintains that the group is responsible for acts of terrorism and violence and poses a threat to national security.
Observers say the latest development illustrates the complexities of securing international sanctions through the United Nations framework, where legal thresholds, evidentiary requirements and diplomatic considerations all play a role in the decision-making process.
For now, the proposal remains under review, and Pakistan and China may seek to provide additional evidence or engage in further consultations with Security Council members before the committee reaches a final decision.