Australia sanctions BLA, three senior leaders for 'engagement in and support of terrorist attacks'

Australia on Friday imposed sanctions on the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and three of its senior leaders, according to a statement from Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s office. “The Australian Government has today imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions on the Balochistan Liberation Army and three senior leaders for their engagement in and support of terrorist attacks,” said the statement dated May 8. The Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the BLA 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,” the statement read, adding that Australia’s commitment to counter-terrorism and curbing violent extremism is “unwavering”. “These sanctions help cut off financial support of terrorists, making it harder for them to fund operations, recruit and spread their harmful ideology,” it added. Wong’s office reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling networks threatening Australia’s security, in collaboration with international partners. It added that using or dealing with the assets of a listed person or entity, or making assets available to them, is a criminal offence punishable by heavy fines and up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Pakistan has been lobbying other nations and institutions to proscribe the banned BLA, which perpetrated attacks like the Jaffar Express hijacking in March 2025, where terrorists took control of a train with over 400 passengers on board. The 33 terrorists were killed in an operation launched by the military the next day. In February, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, urged the United Nations Security Council to move swiftly to designate the BLA as a terrorist organisation under its sanctions regime, saying the listing request was already under consideration by the council. “We hope the council will act swiftly to designate BLA under the 1267 sanctions regime, ac