US Declares TRF a global terror group after Pahalgam terrorist attack

In a significant development, the United States has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy outfit of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The move comes in response to the deadly April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region that claimed the lives of 26 Hindu civilians.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the designation in a formal statement, emphasizing Washington's firm stance on combating global terrorism. He said TRF’s affiliation with LeT, which was responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, made it imperative for the US to take decisive action. While TRF initially claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam massacre, it later distanced itself from the incident. Despite this, intelligence agencies have established its involvement.

The Pahalgam killings led India to launch Operation Sindoor , a series of surgical airstrikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. The strikes reportedly damaged key Pakistani military assets, including the Noor Khan air base in Rawalpindi. Pakistan retaliated with heavy shelling along the LoC and the international borders in Punjab and Rajasthan.

In a surprising diplomatic twist, US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social, claiming credit for brokering a ceasefire. However, India dismissed his remarks, reiterating its long-held position that Indo-Pak issues should be resolved bilaterally. Eventually, on May 10, ceasefire was achieved following a request from Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to his Indian counterpart.