Australian Government on Friday officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a terrorist entity and imposed targeted financial sanctions on the group and three of its senior leaders.
The designation, announced by the Foreign Minister Penny Wong in a statement targets the militant separatist group for its involvement in and support of violent terrorist attacks across Pakistan. The BLA, an ethnonationalist group seeking independence for the Baloch people, has been responsible for devastating suicide bombings and armed assaults that have killed hundreds of civilians and targeted foreign nationals .
“The Balochistan Liberation Army is a group that has conducted violent terror attacks across Pakistan. These appalling attacks have targeted civilians, critical infrastructure, and foreign nationals as well as the Pakistani state,” Senator Wong said in the statement.
The group launched a fresh wave of violence in January under the banner “Operation Herof 2.0,” carrying out suicide bombings and armed assaults across nine districts, with authorities placing the death toll at 274 . The BLA has also conducted targeted killings of non-Baloch individuals, mass executions, and sabotage bombings on critical infrastructure.
Under the new sanctions, it is now a criminal offence to use or deal with the assets of the listed entity or individuals. Penalties for breaching Australian sanctions laws include heavy fines and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
“These sanctions help cut off financial support of terrorists, making it harder for them to fund operations, recruit and spread their harmful ideology,” she added. “We remain committed to working with our international partners to confront and dismantle the networks that fuel threats to our security.”
Australia joins several countries, including Britain, Pakistan, and the United States, which have previously declared the BLA a terrorist organisation .
Deepening Australia-Pakistan Security Cooperation
Today’s designation builds on a growing framework of security collaboration between Canberra and Islamabad. In late 2025, Pakistan and Australia agreed to significantly upgrade their bilateral security ties, establishing a Joint Working Group to advance cooperation in security and law enforcement .
The agreement followed a virtual meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke, during which both sides agreed to enhance collaboration to curb illegal immigration, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts and enhanced information sharing .
The two nations also discussed launching training programs for officers of Pakistan’s police and paramilitary forces, as well as increased cooperation between Australia’s security agencies and Pakistan’s National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) .
This cooperation has historical roots, with Australia and Pakistan having signed a counter-terrorism memorandum of understanding as early as 2005, allowing for joint training exercises between security forces and the sharing of sensitive intelligence .
The strengthened security partnership has also facilitated practical outcomes, including security arrangements for the Australian cricket team’s tour of Pakistan in early 2026 .
“The Australian Government’s commitment to countering terrorism and violent extremism is unwavering,” the statement concluded. “
Australia’s counter terrorism sanctions are targeted, proportionate and designed to uphold international peace and security.”
