US designates RTF as Terrorist Organisation, India hails US decision
India hailed the US decision as a ''timely and important step'' and strong affirmation of counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries for zero tolerance against terrorism.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on X ''Appreciate @SecRubio and @StateDept for designating TRF—a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) proxy—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Gloabl Terrorist (SDGT). It claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. 'Zero tolerance for Terrorism. #OpSindoor.'
In a separate statement the External Affairs Ministry said ''the Government of India welcomes the decision of the United States Department of State to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). We acknowledge and appreciate the leadership of Secretary of State Mr. Marco Rubio in this regard.''
Earlier US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement the move demonstrates the Trump Administration's commitment to protecting our national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trump's call for justice for the Pahalgam attack.
This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by LeT. TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024, the US Secretary of State said.
The TRF, a proxy of the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), has been involved in numerous terror-related activities, including the heinous attack on civilians in Pahalgam on April 22 for which it twice claimed responsibility.
The External Affairs Ministry statement said ''India has consistently emphasized the need for global cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the dismantling of terror infrastructure. The designation of TRF is a timely and important step reflecting the deep cooperation between India and the United States on counter-terrorism.''
It said India remains ''committed to a policy of zero tolerance'' towards terrorism and will continue to work closely with its international partners to ensure that terrorist organizations and their proxies are held accountable.
The Indian Embassy in Washington said ''Another demonstration of strong India-USA counter-terrorism cooperation. Appreciate the Department of State for listing The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist. TRF is a proxy of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and claimed responsibility for the April 22 terror attack on civilians in Pahalgam. ZERO TOLERANCE for terrorism!''
The US can now take punitive actions against TRF including financial strangulation and restricting its activities and denying access to resources. Under the restrictions, It is illegal for a US-based person to provide material support or resources to RTF.
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