CANBERRA: The Australian Government on Friday imposed sanctions on the banned terrorist organisation Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) whose devastating suicide bombings have killed hundreds of civilians in Pakistan.
Pakistan has long accused India of providing funding, intelligence, and technical support to proscribed terrorist organisations, including the BLA and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Several countries, including Britain, Pakistan, and the US, have already declared BLA as a terrorist organisation for its attacks.
“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,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement.
The statement added that 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 Australian Government’s commitment to countering terrorism and violent extremism is unwavering, she said in the statement.
“These sanctions help cut off financial support of terrorists, making it harder for them to fund operations, recruit and spread their harmful ideology,” said the statement. “We remain committed to working with our international partners to confront and dismantle the networks that fuel threats to our security.”
It is a criminal offence to use or deal with the assets of a listed person or entity, or to make assets available to them, the statement added. Wong, in the statement, noted that penalties for a breach of an Australian sanctions law include heavy fines and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
“Australia’s counter terrorism sanctions are targeted, proportionate, and designed to uphold international peace and security. A consolidated list of sanctions is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website,” Wong said.
The move builds on expanding security cooperation between Canberra and Islamabad. In late 2025, Pakistan and Australia agreed to strengthen bilateral security ties through the establishment of a Joint Working Group focused on enhancing collaboration 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 committed to improving coordination to curb illegal immigration and strengthen information sharing.
