In one of the deadliest civilian attacks in recent years in Jammu & Kashmir following the 2019 Pulwama attack. At least 28 tourists were killed and several others injured in a terrorist strike in Pahalgam.
One of the worst attacks on civilians in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. The incident took place at the Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadows in Anantnag district on Tuesday. An Indian Navy officer and an Intelligence Bureau personnel were also killed in the attack.
The Resistance Front’s statement
According to reports, The Resistance Front (TRF), a terror outfit, has claimed responsibility for the massacre in Pahalgam. The organisation is backed by Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. The Resistance Front is allegedly linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The outfit is considered a proxy of LeT founder and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed.
“More than 85,000 domiciles have been issued to non-locals, creating a pathway for demographic change in Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). These non-locals arrive posing as tourists, obtain domiciles, and then begin to act as if they own the land. Consequently, violence will be directed toward those attempting to settle illegally,” TRF said.
What Is The Resistance Front (TRF)?
The Resistance Front (TRF) was allegedly formed in October 2019. The formation of TRF came shortly after the Indian government’s abrogation of Article 370 and the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019.
The organisation is widely regarded as a proxy or rebranded offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Lashkar-e-Taiba is the Pakistan-based jihadist group responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The Indian security agencies and intelligence sources confirm TRF was created to give Kashmir militancy a more “indigenous” and “secular” face. The organisation deliberately distanced itself from the overtly Islamist branding of groups like LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad.
Leadership and Key Figures
Individuals with known associations with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) lead the TRF. This includes Sajjad Gul, Salim Rehmani, and Sajid Jatt. Sheikh Sajjad Gul, a key commander, has been designated a terrorist under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) list. Not just that he is also on the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) most-wanted list, with a bounty on his head.
TRF’s Tactics and Activities
Terrorism, Infiltration & Narcotics Smuggling
TRF has been actively involved in a range of terrorist activities, including:
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Targeted killings of civilians, including religious groups like Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs.
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Attacks on Indian security forces and local police.
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Recruiting youth through online radicalization.
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Smuggling of narcotics and weapons from across the Pakistan border.
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Coordinating logistics and transportation for other banned terror outfits.
According to the Indian security agencies, the group uses guerilla warfare strategies. The organisation has been tied to deadly ambushes like the one in Kupwara’s Keran Sector in April 2020. In this incident over five Indian soldiers and five TRF terrorists were killed in a prolonged gun battle.
Why TRF Was Created: A Strategic Rebranding
According to counter-terrorism experts, the creation of TRF served multiple strategic purposes:
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By distancing itself from religious nomenclature, TRF helps Pakistan avoid censure from international watchdogs like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
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The term, “Resistance” is a globally resonant term. It is often associated with indigenous freedom struggles, which Pakistan uses to project the Kashmir insurgency as a local movement, even though its support is largely foreign-backed.
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TRF uses secular symbols and language; its activities and affiliations make it clear that it is an Islamist militant organization. It targets not only state institutions but also religious and ethnic minority groups.
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An official, as per an Indian Express report said, “Lashkar and Jaish-e-Mohammad had religious connotations and Pakistan did not want that. They wanted to make Kashmir militancy appear indigenous. Hence, they opted for ‘Resistance’ – that has some currency in global politics – in its name”