In a major diplomatic victory for India, the United States has officially labelled The Resistance Front (TRF) a global terrorist group. The decision has been taken in the aftermath of US President Donald Trump's strong demand for action following the Pahalgam attack.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the TRF designation as a terror organization. He said that this action is in line with the Trump administration's strong stance on protecting American national security, addressing global terrorism, and honoring the President's call for justice.
"This action expresses the Trump Administration's commitment to securing our national security interests, fighting terrorism, and enforcing President Trump's call for justice for the Pahalgam attack," Rubio said.
Rubio said that TRF is now officially designated under two key US terror listings: the Foreign Terrorist Organization list and the Specially Designated Global Terrorist list.
Calling TRF a front and proxy for the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Rubio added that the group had taken responsibility for the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. "TRF, a front and proxy of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), took responsibility for the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians," he stated. He continued, "This was the deadliest civilian attack in India after the 2008 Mumbai attacks carried out by LeT."
After the attack, President Trump quickly condemned the attack and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express his solidarity. As reported by India's External Affairs Ministry, Trump "expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack."
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised the issue during talks with Secretary Rubio and again brought up the issue in the recent Quad foreign ministers' meeting in Washington.
LeT, based out of Pakistan and having official patronage, employs TRF as a front to its activities.
Last month, India's cross-party delegation led by Congress member Shashi Tharoor briefed US lawmakers and officials about the activities of TRF and the general security issue it raises.
Following the Pahalgam attack, Indian troops launched Operation Sindoor against LeT bases in Pakistan.
Rubio also noted that the TRF continued to attack Indian forces, taking responsibility for numerous incidents, including several in 2024. "TRF has also taken credit for several attacks against Indian security forces, most recently in 2024," he stated.
Among the cadre's recent violent activities, TRF was responsible for killing six laborers digging a tunnel at Sonamarg in October last year, along with a medical practitioner. Five others were also injured in an attack on a workers' camp.
The US has closely monitored LeT and TRF, especially since the 2008 Mumbai attacks—conducted by LeT—killed almost 170 people, including six Americans.
By declaring TRF an SDGT, the US hopes to limit the group's monetary activities by seizing its assets and freezing financial transactions. The FTO listing further limits TRF's movements, places travel bans on its members, and freezes its assets subject to US jurisdiction.
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