Pakistan has issued a strong response to the United States’ designation of The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), asserting that the move undermines facts on the ground and ignores Islamabad’s substantial contributions to global counter-terrorism efforts.
In an official statement, Pakistan reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism in all forms and manifestations, emphasizing that international cooperation remains a cornerstone of its counter-terrorism (CT) strategy. Highlighting its status as a “frontline state against terrorism,” Pakistan pointed to its role in the capture of Sharifullah, the alleged mastermind behind the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul, as evidence of its commitment to global peace and security.
Responding to allegations of TRF’s links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Pakistan argued that LeT is a defunct and banned organisation and insisted that the country has dismantled such outfits, prosecuted their leaders, and successfully deradicalized cadres. Islamabad further maintained that investigations into the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, are inconclusive, and the region—referred to as “Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&K)” by Pakistan—remains internationally disputed.
The statement also criticized India for allegedly exploiting international designations for its own political agenda. “India has a track record of misusing such measures to propagate anti-Pakistan narratives and divert global attention from its alleged human rights violations in IIOJ&K,” the release noted.
Urging the global community to adopt a non-discriminatory and objective approach to counter-terrorism, Pakistan called for the inclusion of other groups, notably the Majeed Brigade, as aliases of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an insurgent outfit involved in recent attacks on Pakistani military personnel.
The statement concluded by reiterating Pakistan’s “unparalleled sacrifices” in the fight against terrorism and its ongoing efforts to promote collective global action against the menace.
