In one step, the US-India has enhanced an anti-terrorist organization (FTO), nominated as a proxy resistance front (TRF) of Lashkar-e-Taba (LET), as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). The designation comes in response to the alleged role of TRF in the attack in Pahgam on 22 April. 26 citizens dead.
State Secretary Marco Rubio announced the designation on Thursday, saying that it aligns with the demand of accountability after President Donald Trump’s Pahgam attack.
Rubio said in a statement issued by the state department, “This action against TRF reflects the Trump administration’s commitment to protect our national security interests, combat terrorism and implement President Trump’s call for justice for President Trump’s Pahalgam attack.”
Rubio said that TRF, along with other surnames, has been added to the latest designation as both an FTO and specially designated global terrorist (SDGT), which is a specially designated global terrorist (SDGT) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224.
The designation maintains the first listing and shows what Rubio has described as a constant threat of the group for regional and global security. Rubio said, “This (the Pahgam attack) was the deadliest attack on citizens in India, since the 2008 Mumbai attacks were organized by late. TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against the Indian security forces, which recently included in 2024,” Rubio said.
The Indian Embassy in Washington welcomed the move, called it proof of a strong anti-terrorism partnership between the two countries.
“Another demonstration of Strong India-USA counter-termerism collaboration. Appreciate the State Department for listing Resistance Front (TRF) as a nominated foreign terrorist organization and specially designated global terrorist. TRF is a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiyaba and on April 22, Pahalgam has claimed responsibility for Civilians in Pahalgam.
The story continues below this advertisement
The National Investigation Agency has recognized TRF chief Sheikh Sajjad Gul as the mastermind behind the initiative attack. While the group initially claimed the responsibility for the murders, it later withdrawn the claim between increasing tension between India and Pakistan.
After the attack, India launched Operation Sindore on 7 May, targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan -occupied Kashmir. In the following weeks, the seven Indian multi-party delegations visited 33 global capitals including Washington, underlining that it was described as a link to Pakistan for terrorism across terrorism across terrorism.
What do we know about the resistance front?
Resistance Front is an offshoot of Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tabiba. The Union Home Ministry declared TRF a terrorist organization in January 2023 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The government has accused the group of promoting terrorist campaigning, recruiting terrorists and coordinating infiltration to operate infiltration and smuggling from Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.
TRF first came to publicly in public in 2020, after several clashes, in which Indian Army personnel were killed in gunbates in Keran, Handwara and Sopore. In such an encounter in Keran, five Indian commandos and five TRF terrorists were killed.
The story continues below this advertisement
The group holds an active appearance on social media platforms such as Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp, where it posts the promotional material and claims responsibility for the target attacks of security forces.
(With input from PTI)
,
