The United States has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF)—the group behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir—as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
This move comes in response to the group’s involvement in the deadliest civilian attack in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the designation reflects the Trump administration’s commitment to global counter-terrorism and justice for the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
“This action demonstrates President Trump’s call for justice and our commitment to counter terrorism and protect US national security interests,” Rubio said.
He further stated that TRF and its aliases are now included under the umbrella of Lashkar-e-Taiba’s existing designation under both Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224. The State Department has also reaffirmed LeT’s designation as an FTO.
According to Rubio, TRF has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Indian security forces, including in 2024, but the Pahalgam incident marked a major escalation. On April 22, 26 civilians—mostly tourists—were killed when TRF operatives opened fire in the popular Kashmir town.
India’s Response: Operation Sindoor
Following the Pahalgam massacre, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting nine terror infrastructure locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Over 100 terrorists were eliminated in the coordinated military strikes, which triggered cross-border retaliation by Pakistan in the form of drone and missile attacks. Indian forces successfully countered the intrusions and launched proportionate strikes, leading to Pakistan requesting a ceasefire by May 10.
India’s diplomatic response was equally swift. Seven multi-party delegations visited 33 global capitals, including Washington D.C., to expose Pakistan’s continued support for terrorist groups like TRF and LeT.
