TRF Declared Terror Group by US After Pahalgam Attack; FATF May Greylist Pakistan Again

The U.S. has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF)—responsible for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The April 22 attack resulted in the brutal killing of 26 tourists based on their religion, marking one of the deadliest incidents since Pulwama.

Initially, TRF claimed responsibility but later retracted under pressure from Pakistan. India directly blamed Pakistan for the attack and responded by launching Operation Sindoor on the night of May 6-7, targeting 9 terrorist groups across PoK and Pakistan. Reports confirmed the death of terrorist Masood Azhar’s entire family in the Indian strikes.

FATF Grey List Reopening for Pakistan?

The U.S. move is seen as a major blow to Pakistan, potentially reopening the doors for FATF (Financial Action Task Force) to greylist Pakistan again. FATF had earlier placed Pakistan in the grey list in 2008 and 2018 for its failure to curb terror financing and money laundering.

Former Pakistani ambassador to the U.S., Husain Haqqani, shared a report on X (Twitter), pointing out that if signs of jihadist group resurgence emerge, Pakistan may be re-added to the FATF grey list. Pakistan was last removed from the list in 2022.

India's Diplomatic Win & Global Pressure on Pakistan

Earlier, India tried to get TRF listed as a UN-designated terrorist group, but China vetoed the proposal. Pakistan's deputy PM had even bragged in parliament about blocking India’s move. However, with the latest U.S. decision, Pakistan is cornered and cannot disown TRF anymore.

India now has a strong diplomatic edge and can use this momentum to expose Pakistan's terror infrastructure globally. The next FATF meeting is scheduled in 2–3 months, and a fresh proposal against Pakistan could lead to renewed global accountability.