WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) – The United States is designating the Pakistani separatist Baloch Liberation Army as a foreign terrorist organization, the U.S. Department of State said on Monday.
The BLA is the strongest of a number of insurgent groups long operating in the area bordering Afghanistan and Iran, a mineral-rich region that is home to Beijing’s investment in Gwadar deep water port and other projects.
Recently, the BLA took responsibility for hijacking a Pakistani Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar in March, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and holding over 300 train passengers hostage, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.
The foreign terrorist organization designation by the U.S. triggers restrictions on providing financial support and other aid to the group.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
Suggested Topics:
Read Next
Firefighters in Turkey are battling wildfires in the centre of the northwestern province of Canakkale, fanned by strong winds, and hundreds of residents have evacuated in precaution, local authorities and media said on Monday.
Site Index
About Reuters
Stay Informed
Information you can trust
Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world’s media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.