The U.S. designation is seen as a diplomatic victory for India
Published on: July 19, 2025
By: [BTNI]
Location: Washington
In a significant move bolstering global counter-terrorism efforts, the United States has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-based proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The decision, announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, comes in response to TRF’s claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, marking the deadliest civilian attack in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The U.S. State Department stated that TRF, formed in 2019 as a front for LeT, has been involved in multiple attacks, including assaults on Indian security forces in 2024. The designation, effective upon publication in the Federal Register, imposes financial sanctions, travel bans, and restrictions on any support for TRF, aiming to curb its operations and isolate it internationally.
India welcomed the move as a “strong affirmation” of India-U.S. counter-terrorism cooperation. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar praised the decision, stating, “Zero tolerance for terrorism,” and thanked Rubio and the State Department for recognizing TRF’s role in the Pahalgam attack. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs called the designation a “timely and important step,” reinforcing New Delhi’s push for global accountability for Pakistan’s alleged support of terror groups.
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The Pahalgam attack, which targeted tourists in the scenic Baisaran Valley, drew widespread condemnation, including from the UN Security Council. India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor on May 7 struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, neutralizing over 100 terrorists. The U.S. designation is seen as a diplomatic victory for India, strengthening its case to list TRF under the UN’s 1267 sanctions committee and pressuring Pakistan on its counter-terrorism commitments under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Pakistan, however, questioned the designation, claiming the investigation into the Pahalgam attack remains “inconclusive.” This response has drawn criticism, with analysts viewing it as an attempt to deflect responsibility for TRF’s actions, which are reportedly backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The U.S. action underscores a growing alignment between Washington and New Delhi in combating cross-border terrorism, signaling that rebranding terror groups will not shield them from international scrutiny.
