US Declares The Resistance Front A Terrorist Group, Rubio Says Move Fulfills Justice

The United States has formally designated The Resistance Front (TRF), the group behind the recent deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The announcement was made on Thursday by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated that the move reflects the Trump administration’s commitment to justice and national security.

“This designation of TRF demonstrates the Trump administration's resolve to protect American interests and stand against global terrorism,” Rubio said. “It is also a direct response to President Trump’s call for accountability for the Pahalgam attack, which remains the deadliest assault on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.”

Rubio added that TRF, a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has been added to LeT’s existing terrorist designations under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224. “TRF and its aliases have been absorbed under LeT’s designation as both an FTO and an SDGT,” he said, confirming that the Department of State has reviewed and upheld LeT’s terror designation.

The Pahalgam attack, carried out on April 22, claimed 26 lives — mostly tourists — in a brutal assault in the scenic valley town in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack shocked the nation and drew international condemnation.

India’s Retaliatory Action: Operation Sindoor

In response to the massacre, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. According to Indian security forces, over 100 militants were neutralised in the coordinated air and ground strikes.

The military operation triggered a brief but intense conflict between India and Pakistan, with Islamabad responding by deploying drones and launching missile attacks. Indian forces successfully repelled the Pakistani assaults and retaliated, eventually prompting Pakistan to call for a ceasefire on May 10.

Diplomatic Push

Following the Pahalgam attack and its aftermath, India mounted a global diplomatic campaign to highlight Pakistan’s alleged role in supporting cross-border terrorism. In late May, seven multi-party delegations from India visited 33 international capitals — including Washington, D.C. — urging world leaders to hold Pakistan accountable for harboring terrorist groups like TRF and LeT.

The US designation of TRF as a terrorist group is seen as a significant step in India's efforts to isolate Pakistan diplomatically over its terror links.