India welcomes the United States' decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), following TRF's claim of responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar calls the move a strong affirmation of India-U.S. counter-terrorism cooperation.

The U.S. Department of State, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, announces the designation, noting TRF's ties to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT). The April 22 attack, the deadliest civilian attack in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, triggers a four-day military escalation between India and Pakistan. The U.S. highlights TRF's involvement in multiple attacks on Indian security forces in 2024.

Jaishankar posts on X:

The U.S. adds TRF to LeT’s FTO and SDGT designations under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224. Rubio states, “These actions demonstrate the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trump’s call for justice for the Pahalgam attack.”

Earlier this week, Jaishankar, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Tianjin, emphasizes a firm stance against terrorism, citing the Pahalgam attack, condemned by the UN Security Council. He highlights terrorism, separatism, and extremism as global threats. India’s Ministry of External Affairs calls the U.S. designation a timely step, reinforcing India’s commitment to global counter-terrorism cooperation. (Rh/Eth/RS)