External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has welcomed the United States’ decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF)—a proxy of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). This move comes in the wake of the deadly April 22 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, most of whom were tourists.
Strong India-US Counter-Terrorism Ties
Reacting to the decision, Jaishankar posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling it a “strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation.” He acknowledged US Senator Marco Rubio and the US State Department for taking action against the TRF, which he described as a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy. Jaishankar reiterated India’s firm stance: “Zero tolerance for terrorism.” He also referenced #OpSindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam attack.
Indian Embassy Applauds US Action
The Indian Embassy in Washington echoed Jaishankar’s sentiment, stating that this is “another demonstration of strong India-USA counter-terrorism cooperation.” The Embassy’s statement underlined that TRF had taken responsibility for the April 22 terror attack on civilians in Pahalgam, further noting its status as a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba.
TRF: A Front for Lashkar-e-Taiba
The Resistance Front has long been recognized as a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which orchestrated the 2008 Mumbai attacks. TRF has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Indian security forces in recent months, including the Pahalgam attack, making it one of the most dangerous active terror outfits in the region.
US Statement on TRF Designation
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the TRF as a “front and proxy of LeT,” stating that the designation reflects the Trump administration’s commitment to national security and counter-terrorism. The US State Department stated that this was the deadliest attack on Indian civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks and justified the FTO and SDGT designations based on the TRF’s continued involvement in acts of terror.
India’s Response: Operation Sindoor and Global Diplomatic Outreach
In retaliation to the April 22 attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, a targeted military operation that neutralized over 100 terrorists and destroyed nine terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan responded with drone and missile strikes, but India effectively repelled the intrusions and conducted further precision strikes. Following these escalations, Islamabad requested a ceasefire on May 10.
India also initiated a global diplomatic campaign. It dispatched seven multi-party delegations to 33 international capitals, including Washington DC, to expose Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism. These efforts aimed to strengthen international consensus against state-sponsored terrorism in South Asia.
Sekar Rao