The Resistance Front (TRF) group behind the 22 Pahalgam terror attack is designated as a terrorist organisation by the US Department of State.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a statement in which it has been acknowledged that the organisation behind the Pahalgam attack in J & K has claimed the attack is a terror outfit and designated it as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
“Today, 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,” the statement read.
The statement further stated that this is US President Trump’s commitment to countering terrorism. “These actions taken by the Department of State demonstrate 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.”
“TRF and other associated aliases have been added to LeT’s designation as an 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,” the statement added.
On Tuesday, S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister, had stressed a strict stance against terrorism during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tianjin. Jaishankar pointed out the three evils—terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
In his address, S. Jaishankar said India recently witnessed a graphic example of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025. “It was deliberately conducted to undermine the tourism economy of Jammu and Kashmir, while sowing a religious divide,” he added.
