TRF Declared Terrorist Group by United States
The United States has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The move comes less than three months after the brutal April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians, including tourists and locals, were killed in a coordinated militant strike. Though TRF initially claimed responsibility, the group later retracted the statement, citing a supposed hacking incident.
The US government stated that TRF operates as a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based terror group already listed under global terrorism watchlists. TRF is believed to have been created to give a local Kashmiri face to LeT operations and has been active in targeted killings, ambushes, and propaganda since its emergence in late 2019.
India Welcomes Strong International Support
India’s Ministry of External Affairs welcomed the US decision, calling it a necessary step in the fight against cross-border terrorism. Officials said the designation will help choke TRF’s funding channels, curb its digital propaganda, and block support networks, particularly in Western jurisdictions. The group’s inclusion in the terror list also prevents any US citizen or entity from engaging with it financially or otherwise.
TRF and Lashkar-e-Taiba Connection
Security agencies in India have long maintained that TRF is an operational arm of LeT, designed to avoid international scrutiny after Pakistan faced pressure over its role in promoting terrorism in the region. TRF has also been linked to attacks on non-local workers and minority communities in Kashmir. Despite its attempt to deny involvement in the Pahalgam massacre, Indian intelligence believes TRF’s involvement is backed by credible digital forensics and intercepts.
Global Implications and UN Roadblock
Although India has repeatedly urged the United Nations to designate TRF and its operatives as global terrorists, these efforts have faced obstacles—most notably vetoes from China in the UN Security Council. However, the US designation provides a strong diplomatic tool and could lead to similar actions from other countries in the near future.
The US action is seen as a significant endorsement of India’s long-standing position that Pakistan-based terror groups continue to mutate and rebrand while pursuing the same extremist goals in Jammu and Kashmir.
