In the wake of the U.S. designating The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), China has “strongly” condemned the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and called for enhanced regional collaboration to combat terrorism.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian praised the United States for its efforts in curbing global terrorism and welcomed the move to designate TRF—a proxy of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group.
“China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns the terrorist attack that occurred on April 22. We urge regional countries to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation to jointly maintain regional peace and stability,” Lin stated.
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of State formally added TRF to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations and SDGTs. The group had claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, making it the deadliest attack on Indian civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the administration’s commitment to justice and national security. “This action highlights the Trump administration’s continued resolve to counter terrorism and ensure accountability for atrocities like the Pahalgam attack,” he said.
The designation brings TRF under Section 219 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, expanding the legal framework to freeze its assets and prosecute individuals linked to the group. The U.S. also reaffirmed its existing designation of LeT under these provisions.
The joint condemnation by the U.S. and China marks a rare alignment in counterterrorism messaging, emphasizing the global consensus against extremist violence in South Asia.
