In a major move underscoring global counter-terrorism collaboration, the United States has officially declared The Resistance Front (TRF) a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). TRF, widely recognized as a proxy group of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), was also designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the US Department of State.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded to the decision on Friday, calling it a “strong affirmation” of the shared commitment between India and the US to combat terrorism. He thanked Secretary Marco Rubio and the US State Department for taking decisive action against TRF, a group with direct ties to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pahalgam assault, which tragically killed 26 civilians, marked the most lethal attack on Indian soil since the 2008 Mumbai tragedy, also orchestrated by LeT. The violence sparked a four-day military standoff between India and Pakistan, further escalating tensions in the region.
According to US authorities, TRF has been involved in numerous attacks on Indian security personnel over the past few years, including incidents reported in 2024. Formed in 2019 shortly after India’s revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the group is believed to be part of Pakistan’s broader ISI-backed disinformation and hybrid warfare strategy. TRF primarily targets civilians, minorities, tourists, and military forces while actively engaging in recruitment and propaganda operations.
Reports suggest the militant group recruits highly trained ex-SSG commandos from the Pakistan Army, including individuals like Hashim Musa, to execute precision attacks. Despite the deaths of its founder Muhammad Abbas Sheikh and operational chief Basit Ahmed Dar, TRF’s supreme commander Sheikh Sajjad Gul remains at large.
Sources have also indicated that TRF may be relocating its command center from Muridke to Bahawalpur in Pakistan. This strategic shift could signal new tactics in the group’s operational plans.
India has welcomed the US designation, viewing it as a critical step in the global fight against state-sponsored terrorism and proxy warfare in South Asia.
