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Pakistan Hails US Branding of Separatist Group as Global Terrorists

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - The United States on Tuesday designated a major
   anti-Pakistan militant organization conducting deadly attacks against
   local and foreign targets in the South Asian nation as a global
   terrorist.

   Islamabad promptly welcomed the move, which prohibits U.S. citizens
   from engaging in any transactions with members of the so-called
   Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), and all of their property in the
   U.S. are blocked.

   "BLA is an armed separatist group that targets security forces and
   civilians, mainly in ethnic Baloch areas of Pakistan," according to a
   U.S. State Department announcement.

   The militant group operates in Baluchistan, a southwestern province
   rich with natural resource and where China is investing billions of
   dollars to build major infrastructure projects as part of its Belt and
   Road Initiative.

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