U.S., U.K., France Put UN Technical Hold on Pakistan–China Bid to List BLA Under 1267

Overview

• Pakistan and China submitted a request to add the Balochistan Liberation Army and its Majeed Brigade to the UN 1267 sanctions list.
• The United States, United Kingdom and France cited insufficient evidence of ties to Al‑Qaeda or ISIL in placing the proposal on hold.
• A technical hold typically delays consideration for about six months unless additional evidence is provided.
• Listing under 1267 would trigger UN‑wide travel bans, asset freezes and an arms embargo on the designated entities.
• The United States designated both groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations in August after claims of attacks including the March Jaffar Express hijacking that killed 31 people.