Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar supports Pahalgam attacker TRF, questions where is the proof of Kashmir attack

Time of India

3 days ago

On 18 July, the United States officially designated
The Resistance Front
(TRF) as a
Foreign Terrorist Organisation
and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The announcement was made by US Secretary of State
Marco Rubio
following a series of attacks the group has been linked to, including the brutal assault in Jammu and Kashmir earlier this year.
Just a day later, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Ishaq Dar
delivered a pointed speech in Parliament, rejecting the accusations against TRF. Speaking about the UN Security Council's statement on the
Pahalgam attack
, he revealed that Pakistan had used its diplomatic position to keep TRF's name out of the official condemnation.
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'We opposed the mention of TRF in the UNSC statement. I got calls from global capitals, but Pakistan will not accept,' Dar said. 'TRF was deleted, and Pakistan prevailed.'
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He went further: 'We don't consider TRF illegal. Show us proof they carried out the Pahalgam attack. Show ownership by TRF. We won't accept the allegation, and TRF had to be deleted from the UN press release.'
A separate video clip from April, now resurfacing, shows Dar making similar remarks. 'Alhamdulillah, we are a non-permanent member of the UNSC. We don't consider TRF illegal. Show the evidence that TRF carried out the Pahalgam attack or prove its ownership. We will not accept these claims, TRF had to be deleted from the UN press release,' he can be heard saying.
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'TRF, a
Lashkar-e-Taiba
front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians,' the US State Department said in a statement. It further noted, 'TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024.'
Rubio described the Pahalgam killings as 'the deadliest assault on civilians in India since 2008' and added, 'These actions demonstrate the Trump administration's commitment to protecting our national security interests and seeking justice for victims of terrorism.'
With the designation, TRF will now face US-led financial sanctions and its ability to draw support from individuals and entities under American jurisdiction will be restricted.
Jaishankar welcomes US decision
India responded swiftly to the US move. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called the decision a strong signal of
India-US cooperation
on security issues.
'Appreciate SecRubio and @StateDept for designating TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) proxy, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). It claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Zero tolerance for terrorism,' Jaishankar posted on X.
— DrSJaishankar (@DrSJaishankar)
The Pahalgam massacre: What happened
The Pahalgam terror attack took place on 22 April and left 26 civilians dead. Most of the victims were Hindus. Survivors recalled that the gunmen separated the women and children, then ordered the men to recite the Islamic declaration of faith. Many were killed on the spot.
The assault was one of the most severe in recent years and ignited a wave of violence across the region. Over the next four days, escalating clashes along the Line of Control resulted in over 70 reported deaths. It was the worst standoff between Indian and Pakistani forces since the Kargil conflict in 1999.
TRF initially claimed responsibility for the attack in a post that was later deleted. Despite that, both India and the United States have cited intelligence linking TRF to the Lashkar-e-Taiba network, a UN-designated terrorist group operating out of Pakistan.
India continues to view TRF as a terror group operating under the umbrella of Lashkar-e-Taiba. New Delhi has consistently maintained that Pakistan backs such outfits as proxies to destabilise Kashmir and carry out cross-border attacks.
Pakistan, however, refuses to acknowledge TRF's involvement. Ishaq Dar's statements in Parliament reflect Islamabad's hardened stance, even in the face of international pressure and mounting evidence.
The contrasting reactions from India and Pakistan underscore the larger diplomatic battle now unfolding. On one side, the US and India are aligning on counter-terrorism. On the other, Pakistan is digging in its heels, rejecting any claims that tie TRF to the Pahalgam attack or to its soil.
The fallout from this will likely be felt beyond Kashmir. As global scrutiny grows, so will the pressure on Pakistan to explain its position.