The United States has commended Pakistan for its “continued successes” in containing terrorist entities that threaten regional and global peace, according to a joint statement issued after the Pakistan-US Counter-Terrorism Dialogue held in Islamabad on Tuesday.
The US also extended condolences over the loss of civilians and security personnel in recent terrorist attacks, including the Jaffar Express bombing and the Khuzdar school bus attack.
Condemnation of Separatist Group BLA
The remarks come just a day after Washington designated the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
The BLA, which has been fighting for decades in Balochistan to gain independence for the resource-rich province, is already on Pakistan’s and the US’s lists of terrorist organizations. The group has carried out numerous attacks on civilians, security forces, and infrastructure.
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US Reaffirms Stance on Terrorism
The US first labelled the BLA as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity in 2019. In a statement on Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted:
“Since 2019, BLA has claimed responsibility for additional attacks, including by the Majeed Brigade.”
The latest designation underscores Washington’s support for Islamabad’s counter-terrorism efforts and signals continued collaboration between the two countries in combating extremist threats.
