Potentially, a firm U.S. stance against the BLA terrorist organization could enhance the safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan.
In a significant move, the US Department of State has designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, the Majeed Brigade, as foreign terrorist organizations. This decision comes in response to the BLA's involvement in violent attacks in Pakistan, including a deadly blast in Karachi that claimed the lives of two Chinese nationals.
The BLA, a separatist group operating in Pakistan, has been responsible for a series of attacks targeting both Pakistani security forces and Chinese workers in the country. The ongoing threat posed by the BLA to Chinese workers, who are involved in various projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is a cause for concern.
The US counterterrorism efforts in Pakistan could potentially enhance security for Chinese workers in the country, as the designation of the BLA as a foreign terrorist organization signifies a commitment to counterterrorism efforts against the group. However, the current status of US-China counterterrorism cooperation in Pakistan, specifically regarding the BLA, is not explicitly detailed in available recent sources.
Pakistan considers the BLA and related separatist groups a serious security threat, particularly because of their targeting of Pakistani security forces and Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects in Balochistan. US-Pakistan counterterrorism dialogue and cooperation appear ongoing, with both countries reaffirming their shared commitment to combating terrorism.
While there is no direct evidence of active US-China counterterrorism cooperation in Pakistan around the BLA, both states independently address threats posed by the group given their strategic interests. China’s counterterrorism ambitions globally, including in regions where it has economic projects, have been growing, although most details pertain to Africa rather than South Asia. China’s security involvement in Pakistan largely focuses on protecting its investments in Balochistan, targeted by the BLA.
The BLA's involvement in the attack in Karachi underscores the need for increased counterterrorism efforts in Pakistan to protect Chinese workers in the country. The US Department of State's designation of the BLA as a foreign terrorist organization may have implications for the security of Chinese workers in Pakistan, although the nature and extent of any potential collaboration between the US and China remain unreported or minimal as of mid-2025.
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