The United States has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), following its role in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Thursday confirming the designation and highlighting TRF’s direct involvement in one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
“TRF, a front for Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. The group has also been behind several recent attacks targeting Indian security forces,” the statement read.
The designation reflects what the State Department called the Trump administration’s “firm commitment” to counterterrorism and ensuring justice for the victims of the Pahalgam attack. “This action underscores our dedication to protecting national security and bringing the perpetrators of terrorism to justice,” it added.
The US also reaffirmed its existing designation of LeT as an FTO and SDGT, noting that TRF and its aliases are now included under those same sanctions. The designation under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224 will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register.
In response, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the need for an uncompromising global stance against terrorism. Speaking at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin, Jaishankar said the Pahalgam attack was “a deliberate attempt to disrupt Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism economy and sow communal discord.”
“The UN Security Council strongly condemned the attack and stressed the need to hold the perpetrators accountable. We in India are doing exactly that and will continue to do so,” Jaishankar said, calling for collective action against terrorism, separatism, and extremism within multilateral platforms like the SCO.
