India Welcomes U.S. Move to Designate TRF as Global Terrorist Group
- The U.S. has officially labelled The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Toiba proxy, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hailed the decision as a strong step in India-U.S. counter-terrorism cooperation and praised U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- TRF had claimed responsibility for the April 2025 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians the deadliest since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
In a significant move, the United States designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The decision follows TRF’s claim of responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, marking the deadliest assault on Indian civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
India welcomed the announcement, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar calling it a 'strong affirmation' of India-U.S. counter-terrorism cooperation. Taking to social media, Jaishankar praised U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the State Department for the designation, underlining its importance in the global fight against terrorism.
"Appreciate @SecRubio and @StateDept for designating TRF a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) proxy as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist," he stated.
The U.S. State Department emphasized that TRF has not only targeted civilians but also carried out multiple attacks on Indian security forces, including in 2024. It added that the action reflects the Trump Administration’s resolve to protect national security and pursue justice for the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
The designation is expected to further isolate the group internationally and restrict its operational capabilities through financial sanctions and global enforcement.
