In a significant diplomatic development, the United States has designated The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The designation follows the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 people in what has been described as the deadliest assault on Indian civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on Thursday. He said the move demonstrates the Trump administration’s firm commitment to countering terrorism and securing global interests. Rubio confirmed that TRF had publicly claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack and called it a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy group.
India has welcomed the decision and called it a timely and important step. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the US move highlights the strength of India-US cooperation against terrorism. The MEA added that TRF is a Pakistan-based proxy group and was directly involved in the April 22 attack. It also acknowledged the leadership of Secretary Rubio in taking this action.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar praised the designation as a powerful message of zero tolerance for terrorism. In a social media post, he wrote that the action reaffirms India-US counter-terrorism cooperation and holds TRF accountable for its role in the Pahalgam attack.
The United Nations Security Council had earlier condemned the incident. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin earlier this week, Dr Jaishankar called for an uncompromising global response to terrorism and reiterated India’s position on dismantling terror networks.
This US decision is expected to intensify international pressure on Pakistan-based terrorist networks and deepen coordination between India and its global partners to counter cross-border threats.
