ISLAMABAD, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan has welcomed the decision of the United States to declare the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorists group and called for action against their facilitators and financiers, a statement from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.
The foreign ministry said that the BLA was declared as a proscribed entity in Pakistan in 2006 and Pakistan hoped that the designation "will ensure that BLA's space to operate is minimized."
"It is important that the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and external sponsors including those glorifying these acts of terror against Pakistan are held accountable and brought to justice," said the statement.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of State said in a statement that it has identified the BLA as the Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
An official from Pakistan's foreign ministry told local media that it is a vital achievement by Pakistan and it will help the country establish peace in southwest Balochistan province.
The BLA is an armed separatist group that targets security forces and civilians, mainly in ethnic Baloch areas of Pakistan, according to the statement.
The BLA claimed several terrorist attacks in different areas of Pakistan in recent years.
A faction of BLA claimed responsibility for the attack at a hotel in Pakistan's southwest port city of Gwadar in May 2019.
The banned outfit also carried out an attack against the Chinese Consulate-General in Pakistan's southern port city Karachi in November last year.
However, no Chinese or other foreigner was hurt in the two attacks.
Local media reported on Wednesday that an important member of the BLA named Rashid Brohi who was involved in the attack at the Chinese Consulate-General has been arrested and handed over to an investigation team.
