US Designates TRF as Terror Group After Deadly Pahalgam Attack Linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba
United States on Thursday officially listed The Resistance Front (TRF)—an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba—as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, months after the brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation, stating that TRF, also known as Kashmir Resistance, has been added as both a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). This follows the group’s alleged involvement in the April 22 attack, which US officials described as India’s deadliest civilian terror incident since the 2008 Mumbai attacks carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba.
According to official statements, four armed men entered Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam and targeted Hindu civilians after confirming their identities. Initial responsibility was claimed by TRF, but the group later retracted its statement, denying direct involvement.
The US action underscores a heightened commitment to combating terrorism, with Rubio emphasizing President Trump’s pledge to seek justice for the Pahalgam victims. The administrative move amends Lashkar-e-Taiba’s existing terrorist designations to explicitly include TRF and its aliases under multiple US terrorism laws and presidential executive orders.
In response to the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, conducting precision airstrikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The Indian military said major Pakistani assets, including the Noor Khan airbase, suffered significant damage. Meanwhile, intense cross-border firing saw repeated ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and international borders in Punjab and Rajasthan.
A ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump after diplomatic discussions but was subsequently rejected by India, which asserted that all outstanding issues with Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally. Ultimately, the military escalation subsided after Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations sought direct communication with Indian counterparts, leading to a mutually agreed ceasefire on May 10.
Officials in Delhi welcomed US support, citing the move as recognition of the pain caused by cross-border terrorism. Public sentiment across India was marked by grief and strong calls for justice on social media and at vigils in several cities. Analysts note that the US decision aligns with previous international efforts to isolate Lashkar-e-Taiba—already designated for its role in the 2008 Mumbai carnage and multiple other terror plots.
The Department of State confirmed that the listing of TRF as a terrorist entity is effective upon publication in the Federal Register and includes all associated aliases and networks. Washington also reiterated its strategic partnership with India on counter-terrorism and regional security.
