Image Source: dailyittehad.com.pk, edition.cnn.com
The United States has commended Pakistan for its “continued success” in controlling terrorist groups both within the region and globally.
In a statement, Washington also offered condolences for the loss of civilian lives and security personnel in recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan. These included the “barbaric” Jaffar Express train attack and the bombing of a school bus in Khuzdar.
The announcement came a day after the US officially designated the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its armed wing, the Majeed Brigade, as foreign terrorist organisations.
The BLA — already banned by both the US and Pakistan — has waged a decades-long armed insurgency demanding independence for Balochistan, a province rich in natural resources.
Washington had first listed the BLA as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group in 2019 following several attacks. In the latest statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “Since 2019, BLA has claimed responsibility for additional attacks, including by the Majeed Brigade.”
The developments coincided with Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, visiting Washington for the second time since the four-day conflict with India.
During his trip, he held high-level talks with senior American political and military leaders and also met members of the Pakistani diaspora, the statement said.
