US DESIGNATES PAKISTAN GROUP’S OFFSHOOT “THE RESISTANCE FRONT” AS TERRORIST
The United States has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF)—a proxy of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity. The move, announced by the U.S. State Department on July 18, 2025, comes in the wake of increasing international concern over TRF’s involvement in deadly attacks in India, particularly the April 22 Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 civilians.
TRF is widely considered a front group for LeT, which has long been involved in terror activities against India. Lashkar-e-Taiba, which orchestrated the 2008 Mumbai attacks, is already designated as a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and the United Nations. TRF was formed in 2019 following the Indian government’s revocation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Seeking to appear as a homegrown movement, TRF avoids overt religious language, presenting itself as a “secular” resistance to Indian rule.
Despite its efforts to rebrand and mask its affiliations, intelligence reports from both Indian and U.S. agencies have found clear links between TRF and LeT, including overlapping leadership, funding sources, and communication networks. The group has been responsible for multiple attacks targeting Indian security forces and civilians, with a surge in violence observed through 2024 and early 2025.
The April 2025 massacre in Pahalgam, in which 26 civilians—mainly tourists—were killed in a grenade and rifle attack at a popular market, was initially claimed by TRF on social media platforms. The group later deleted the post, amid growing diplomatic fallout. However, Indian intelligence agencies tracked the planning and execution of the attack back to TRF operatives trained in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The U.S. designation, under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, enables American authorities to freeze any TRF-linked assets under U.S. jurisdiction. It also makes it a criminal offense for any U.S. individual or entity to provide material support to the group. The designation aims to disrupt TRF’s ability to raise funds, recruit operatives, and conduct cross-border attacks.
Indian officials welcomed the U.S. decision. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called it a “strong affirmation” of U.S. counter-terrorism cooperation. The Indian Embassy in Washington stated that the designation strengthens the global resolve to combat terrorism and hold accountable those using proxy groups for geopolitical leverage.
The U.S. also reiterated its call for Pakistan to dismantle all terror infrastructure within its territory and stop providing safe haven to groups like LeT and its affiliates. While Pakistan has denied harboring TRF operatives, the new designation increases pressure on Islamabad to take visible steps to counter terrorism originating from its soil.
The move reflects a broader U.S. strategy to combat international terrorism and highlights the continued collaboration between Washington and New Delhi on regional security. It also reinforces the message that proxy militant groups operating under new names will not escape global scrutiny or accountability.