Pakistan’s Diplomatic Triumph

Shaikh Moazam Khan

During May 2025, when Pakistan’s Armed Forces engaged in a raging four-day’ battle with Indian forces, the resilience in the military under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir was evident. Despite such adversity on the battlefield, Pakistani forces were able to hold their grounds and block out any external aggression on the country. The dispute was later ended through US brokered ceasefire that was mediated by President Donald Trump and backed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This US brokered ceasefire was not simply a diplomatic success; it was a trigger to diplomatic off-thrush that came later when Pakistan had a major triumph in its battle against terrorism.

“Listing Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade as Foreign Terrorist Organizations is another major achievement in Pakistani counterterrorism policy.”

Listing Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) by US is another major achievement in Pakistani counterterrorism policy. This label is a direct consequence of the aggressive military diplomacy carried by Pakistan, which has been developed with the keen sense of Field Marshal Asim Munir. The paying offs have been fruitful in the past few months as Pakistan witnessed high-level military interaction with US with Chief of Army staff (COAS) making two trips to Washington in the previous two months. These diplomatic activities were accompanied by military activities that were also steady, which demonstrated the interest of the Pakistan to promote peace and stability in the region.

BLA FTO status is a game changer to the Pakistani state and represents a new beginning in the Pakistani relations with US and increasing diplomatic credibility of Islamabad in the international arena. In labeling BLA and its Majeed Brigade as terrorists, US has finally accepted the truth about the state in the Balochistan region and signifies the constant threat that Pakistan has propagated towards foreign intervention in the region. Such a decision can be viewed not only as a success in the war against terrorism but also as a boost to Pakistani authority at the international levels, particularly in the areas of counterterrorism collaboration with Washington.

Among the most important effects of such a naming is that it is a direct setback to Indian covert operations in Balochistan. Indian agencies, especially RAW, have, over the years financed, provided logistic and operational assistance to Baloch separatist bodies like BLA. The Indian intelligence services have indoctrinated militants, cross-border raids and offered refuge to the BLA activists. Indian hospitals have been reported to have treated hurt BLA militants and on other occasions, direct contact has been maintained between the Indian intelligence agencies and these separatist groups. PM Modi and NSA, Ajit Doval have openly admitted that India is involved in interference in Balochistan with the latter saying that India is giving money and weapons to Baloch rebels. A similar evidence of direct involvement by India in state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan is the arrest of a RAW officer, Kulbhushan Jadhav who was part of the activities.

The diplomatic approach that Pakistan used to get this FTO listing was not an obscure assertion but a fact beyond any doubt. The nation tabled detailed intelligence reports detailing the source of funds, logistical and operational support that India has been giving to these separatist entities. This data-based lobbying was vital towards US decision confirming that Pakistan was right all along with regards to the assertion of India as a contributor to terrorism in Pakistan. Pakistan has been demanding internationalization of the Indian proxy war in Balochistan for the past several years and the US placement of BLA and Majeed Brigade in FTOs list is an important diplomatic support to the Pakistani case.

“Among the most important effects is that it is a direct setback to Indian covert operations in Balochistan.”

The juristic and economic consequences of such a decision cannot be overestimated. The FTO designation takes the designation further, not just criminalizing to the material support, propaganda, recruitment, and fundraising of these terrorist organizations as a criminal offense under US law but initiating financial monitoring and restrictions on a global scale. This entails that the proxies in India will henceforth be treated with further scrutiny and restrictions in their operating and fundraising capacities to expand abroad.

It is also a big blow to India due to this diplomatic success. Over the years Indian media and the political elite have romanticized the BLA, declaring them as freedom fighters and sympathizing with them. The US label is effective in degrading the Indian rhetoric with its depiction of these separatist formations as legitimate human agents. This international acknowledgment casts a stain on the anti-Pakistan lobby of India in Western capitals and serves to demonstrate that, in this case, the world is not prepared to swim in a blind spot any longer in regard to the Indian covert operations in Balochistan.

This is not a mere symbolic victory in the case of Pakistan. It enhances the strategic momentum of the country, boosting its credibility as a principal actor in the global strategy of countering terrorism. Pakistan’s leadership has shown that unwavering diplomacy buttressed by efficient intelligence and facts can break the inimical narratives and unravel the foreign-sponsored terrorism.

“Pakistan’s data-based lobbying was vital in convincing the US of India’s sponsorship of terrorism.”

This is a triumph not only for Pakistan and stability in the region, but also in the struggle in the world against terrorism. The fact that the designation of BLA and Majeed Brigade as FTO strengthens the notion that international cooperation in counter terrorism is critical. It is a reminder that nations need to collaborate to fight terrorism and interfere with networks connecting individuals in spreading violence and instability. To Pakistan, it is a vindicating moment of truth; an affirmation of its toughness, its clocking on to peace and its burgeoning prowess in the world arena.

The writer is an Islamabad-based regular contributor.