TRF Designated as Terrorist Group by US After Pahalgam Attack
After nearly three months of delay, the United States has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). This move comes after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, India, that killed 26 civilians — the deadliest attack since the 2019 Pulwama incident.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on Friday, stating that TRF is a front and proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He said, “TRF claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025 attack in Pahalgam, India, in which 26 civilians were killed. It was the deadliest LeT-backed assault on Indian civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.”
Rubio further added that TRF has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Indian security forces, including one in 2024. “This decision reflects President Trump’s commitment to deliver justice for the victims of the Pahalgam attack and signals that his administration takes national and global security seriously,” he said.
TRF's Modus Operandi
TRF, mainly active in Jammu & Kashmir, often recruits individuals who appear to be ordinary civilians but are covertly involved in terror activities. These individuals are termed as “hybrid terrorists.”
India's Stand
India had already designated TRF as a terrorist organization on January 5, 2023. With the U.S. listing now in place, India is likely to push for the group's global designation under the United Nations Security Council.
Significance of the Decision
- Shows global acknowledgment of TRF’s role in terrorism.
- Strengthens India's diplomatic position to blacklist TRF at the UN.
- Demonstrates the U.S. administration’s commitment to global counter-terrorism.