US Designates TRF as Foreign Terrorist Organization Over Pahalgam Attack

The United States has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, following its claimed involvement in the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 civilians. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described TRF as a front and proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a banned Islamist militant organization responsible for multiple terror attacks including the 2008 Mumbai siege. Although TRF initially claimed responsibility for the attack, it later denied involvement; however, the US reaffirmed the group's links to LeT and emphasized that the designation aims to disrupt its funding, support networks, and international operations. The move reflects the Trump administration's firm stance on national security, terrorism countermeasures, and justice for the Pahalgam victims, and has been welcomed by Indian officials as validation of their concerns regarding cross-border terrorism. The designation authorizes freezing of TRF assets, sanctions on supporters, and enhanced international cooperation against terror funding. Pakistan has denied involvement and rejected accusations, but its former Foreign Minister expressed willingness to cooperate with India against TRF, while China reportedly blocked India's efforts to have the group designated at the United Nations.