US Blocks Pakistan-China Resolution to Designate BLA and Majeed Brigade as Terrorist Organisations

The US has blocked a joint effort by Pakistan and China at the UN Security Council to designate the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Majeed Brigade as terrorist organisations. Pakistan and China introduced a joint resolution in September last year to blacklist the BLA and the Majeed Brigade under the Security Council's 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee. It is learnt that this month the US, France, and the UK blocked the effort. The three countries are permanent veto-wielding members of the Security Council. Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed had said that terrorist organisations such as ISIL-K, Al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, East Turkistan Islamic Movement, BLA, and the Majeed Brigade operate from bases in Afghanistan. There are more than 60 terrorist camps that serve as hubs for cross-border infiltration and attacks. Ahmed said at the UN Security Council meeting that Pakistan and the China "hope to get the 1267 Majeed Brigade designated as a terrorist organisation."