India Hails Move as Diplomatic Victory
Washington/Srinagar, July 18: In a major counter-terrorism development, the US Department of State has designated The Resistance Front (TRF) a proxy of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in response to the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians mostly tourists.
In a statement issued by US department of state, the Department of State is adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by LeT. TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024, it reads.
These actions taken by the Department of State demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trump’s call for justice for the Pahalgam attack, it reads.
Statement reads that, TRF and other associated aliases have been added to LeT’s designation as a FTO and SDGT pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, respectively.
The Department of State has also reviewed and maintained the FTO designation of LeT. Amendments to FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register, reads the statement.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday welcomed the US government’s decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a terrorist organisation.
The statement comes as the United States has designated TRF, which claimed responsibility for the deadly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “A strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation. Appreciate Marco Rubio and US state departmrnt for designating TRF—a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) proxy—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). It claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Zero tolerance for Terrorism. #OpSindoor.”
Indian embassy appreciated the US department of state for listing The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.
The Resistance Front (TRF) was behind the April 22 terror strike in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which multiple security personnel were killed.
Reacting to the U.S. decision to designate TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, the Indian Embassy in Washington described it as a strong example of counter-terrorism cooperation between India and the United States.
A statement issued by the Embassy appreciated the U.S. Department of State’s move, calling TRF a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, and reiterated India’s firm stance of zero tolerance for terrorism.
TRF is widely considered a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, the Pakistan-based militant group already recognised globally as a terrorist outfit by the United Nations.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, which targeted nine terror camps and infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in a calibrated retaliatory action.
These cross-border strikes reportedly eliminated over 100 militants. Following the offensive, Pakistan is said to have responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Indian areas.
India is reported to have repelled those attacks and carried out precision retaliatory strikes, prompting Pakistan to request a ceasefire on May 10.
On the diplomatic front, New Delhi sent seven all-party delegations to 33 capitals, including Washington DC, to highlight Pakistan’s alleged patronage of terror groups operating in the region.
The Resistance Front (TRF) emerged in the aftermath of the Indian government’s abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir in August 2019. Marketed by Pakistan’s information warfare machinery as a “homegrown” insurgent outfit, TRF is nothing but a repackaged version of the globally proscribed terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT).
The formation of TRF is a textbook example of Pakistan’s longstanding modus operandi rebranding terror outfits to escape international scrutiny and maintain plausible deniability, while continuing its strategy of cross-border terrorism under the garb of local resistance.
On April 22, 2025, TRF perpetrated a heinous terror attack in the Pahalgam region of Jammu & Kashmir, targeting Indian civilians and soldiers alike.
This brutal massacre was not an isolated act, but part of a larger, Pakistan-orchestrated strategy to destabilize the region and project a false narrative of indigenous rebellion.
Intelligence intercepts, human sources, and forensic digital trail clearly pointed to TRF acting on direct instructions from the Pakistani military establishment, particularly Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir.
The timing of the attack coinciding with rising domestic unrest in Pakistan and global criticism of Munir’s crackdown on democratic forces revealed the true objective: deflection and diversion.
Despite its cosmetic identity, TRF operates under the logistical, financial, and operational command of LeT. Its leadership, arms procurement, training modules, and safe houses are identical to LeT’s infrastructure most of it based in Pakistan-occupied territories and aided by Pakistan’s ISI.
The reason for its new name is strategic, Avoid FATF scrutiny, Evade international bans, Confuse attribution and gain local sympathy, Portray terrorism as a grassroots movement rather than a foreign conspiracy
This deception has now been busted.
In a significant development, the United States formally designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Entity in July 2025, citing its direct involvement in the Pahalgam massacre.
The U.S. statement acknowledged, TRF’s linkages with LeT and Pakistan Army, Gen. Asim Munir’s role in orchestrating the attack, The legitimacy of India’s calibrated military response through “Operation SINDOOR”, aimed at neutralizing terror launchpads across the LoC.
This official recognition of TRF’s real nature is a diplomatic and strategic victory for India. It also isolates Pakistan globally and exposes its military-industrial terror complex.
The attack and subsequent escalation were timed by Gen. Munir to, Shift the focus from his failing internal crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the unconstitutional incarceration of its leadership, Create a security narrative to justify his illegitimate self-appointment as Field Marshal, Strengthen his grip on the Army through diversionary tactics and a manufactured external crisis. His actions not only endangered regional peace but also proved that the Pakistan Army is no longer a national institution it is now a state-backed terror syndicate, operating with impunity and driven by personal ambition.
Strategic Implications
The TRF myth has been debunked. It is neither local nor resistant it is LeT with new branding. Pakistan’s military leadership has been directly implicated in transnational terrorism. India’s Operation SINDOOR was not just punitive it was preventive, legitimate, and proportional. The international community, especially democratic nations, must treat Pakistan as a terror-exporting state, not a victim of terror.
The Pahalgam carnage has reaffirmed what India has long maintained: terrorism in J&K is not indigenous, but imported. TRF is merely the latest mask worn by LeT, and Asim Munir is the architect of this bloody theatre. His misuse of state institutions and terror outfits for personal political elevation is a grim reminder of Pakistan’s structural descent into militarized extremism. India remains committed to defending its sovereignty and civilian lives, and will continue to expose and dismantle every terror proxy by force, diplomacy, and strategic narrative.
The Resistance Front (TRF) is a militant organization active in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is widely considered a proxy of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The Indian government officially designated TRF as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in January 2023.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-backed terror proxy with roots in Kashmir, has been actively involved in a range of terror-related activities since its formation in October 2019, according to official records and security data reviewed by JKNS.
The group, believed to be a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), engages in terror attacks, recruitment, propaganda dissemination, and smuggling. It has been designated a terrorist outfit by India under UAPA in 2023.
TRF primarily targets civilians, minorities, tourists, and security forces, with a string of high-profile attacks reported in Keran, Handwara, Sopore, Shopian, Anantnag, Reasi, and Pahalgam. These attacks have caused widespread fear and disruption in the region.
The group’s leadership includes Sheikh Sajjad Gul, identified as the Supreme Commander and one of the founders. He is currently active and designated as a terrorist by Indian authorities.
Other key figures include, Muhammad Abbas Sheikh, Founder, deceased. Basit Ahmed Dar, Chief Operational Commander, deceased. Ahmed Khalid, Spokesperson who is active right now.
TRF’s operations are reportedly sustained by logistical and intelligence support from Pakistan, ISI, and LeT, making it a major concern for India’s internal security grid.
Authorities continue to track its movements, intercept communications, and monitor potential recruits to curb its activities and dismantle its network across Jammu and Kashmir.
TRF emerged in October 2019, shortly after the Indian government’s revocation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. This move led to widespread unrest and the formation of various terrorist groups, including TRF. It is widely recognized as a proxy arm of Lashkar-e-Taiba, created to give terrorism in Kashmir a more “localized” appearance. TRF was founded in October 2019, with Sheikh Sajjad Gul as its Supreme Commander and Basit Ahmed Dar as its Chief Operational Commander.
TRF has been responsible for several significant terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir since its emergence in 2019. Below is a summary of major incidents attributed to TRF.
The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has been responsible for some of the deadliest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, targeting civilians, security forces, and political leaders alike, according to official records accessed by JKNS.
On April 22, 2025, TRF militants carried out a mass shooting in Pahalgam’s Baisaran area, resulting in the deaths of 28 people and injuries to over 20 others, including a Navy officer. Armed with M4s and AK-47s, the attackers targeted tourists, marking it as the most fatal assault on civilians in recent memory.
In another horrifying incident, nine Hindu pilgrims returning from the Shiv Khori shrine were killed and 33 others injured when TRF terrorists attacked their bus in Reasi district on June 9, 2024. Though the attack was initially claimed by another group, its links to TRF and LeT were later confirmed by intelligence agencies.
On October 20, 2024, TRF gunmen shot dead seven individuals, including a doctor and six labourers, at a construction site in Ganderbal’s Sonamarg area. The outfit later claimed the killings as retaliation against what it called “military infrastructure expansion.”
On September 13, 2023, three top Indian security officials a Colonel, a Major, and a DSP were killed in a TRF-led ambush in Anantnag (Kokernag). The group claimed the attack was revenge for the killing of one of its operatives, Riyaz Ahmed.
Back in July 2020, the TRF shot dead a BJP leader and his family members in Bandipora district. The outfit labeled them “political stooges” and took responsibility for the killings.
TRF was founded by Muhammad Abbas Sheikh, a former Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist who led the group until his death in an encounter with Indian forces on August 23, 2021.
Basit Ahmed Dar, also known as Abu Kamran, succeeded Sheikh as the Chief Operational Commander. A highly wanted militant with a bounty of ₹1 million, Basit was killed on May 7, 2024, in Kulgam.
The current supreme commander of TRF is Sheikh Sajjad Gul, who has been designated a terrorist under the UAPA. He is believed to be operating from Pakistan and plays a central role in directing TRF operations and propaganda.
TRF has repeatedly targeted civilians, minorities, migrant workers, security forces, and political figures. Their attacks often involve heavy firearms, ambushes, and coordinated strikes, primarily aimed at spreading fear and disrupting peace in the region.
The group reportedly receives backing from Pakistan’s ISI and Lashkar-e-Taiba, and has evolved as one of the most active terrorist outfits in the Valley since its emergence in October 2019.
Muhammad Abbas Sheikh. The founder and first chief of TRF, he was previously associated with Hizbul Mujahideen. He played a significant role in establishing TRF as a separatist organization involved in the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. He was killed in an encounter with Indian security forces on August 23, 2021.
Basit Ahmed Dar. Following Abbas Sheikh’s death, Basit Ahmed Dar, also known as Abu Kamran, became the Chief Operational Commander of TRF. He was one of the most wanted terrorists in the Kashmir valley with a reward of one million INR on his head. He was killed by Indian security forces on May 7, 2024, in an encounter in the Kulgam district of Kashmir.
Sheikh Sajjad Gul. Currently, Sheikh Sajjad Gul serves as the supreme leader of TRF. He has been designated as a terrorist under the UAPA, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has placed a reward of 1 million INR on his head. (JKNS)
