Having been included in the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) by the United States(US)‘ State Department, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has termed the label as ‘unjust’.

“BLA is a moderate, secular and an armed defence organisation. BLA is resisting on its motherland against foreign intruders to protect its people. The international laws allow any person or nation to act in self-defence. The US State Department’s ban on BLA is beyond comprehension and unjustified,” the statement released by the BLA read.

In a statement the US state department said, "BLA is an armed separatist group that targets security forces and civilians, mainly in ethnic Baloch areas of Pakistan."

The US action has been condemned as a ‘blow to human rights in Balochistan’. Forced disappearances are common in Balochistan with activists critical of the Pakistani rule often at the receiving end.

The BLA is known to have carried out bombings and suicide attacks in the Balochistan towards its aim of liberating the province from Pakistan. Pakistani Army had annexed the area in 1948 and Baloch activists claim that resources from the area have been drained by Pakistan since then.

The group recently claimed responsibility of having carried out the 11 May attack on Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar which left five dead and several injured. Gwadar port is a part of the $55 billion CPEC, which the BLA claims will further exacerbate the drain of the province’s resources.