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Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
China helping TRF slip through UNSC sanctions scrutiny
India's repeated submissions on The Resistance Front (TRF) have hit a Chinese wall with the 1267 UN Security Council Monitoring Team , which has refused to mention TRF in its six-monthly report to the Sanctions Committee. Instead, Chungjie Li, a Chinese diplomat, who leads the South and Central Asia group, has onboarded Pakistan's requests by mentioning the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Majeed Brigade. #Operation Sindoor India-Pakistan Clash Live Updates| Missiles, shelling, and attacks — here's all that's happening Pakistani Air Force jet shot down in Pathankot by Indian Air Defence: Sources India on high alert: What's shut, who's on leave, and state-wise emergency measures The Monitoring Team (MT) is a key organ of the 1267 UNSC Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee. Its principal tasks include monitoring the implementation of sanctions on those already proscribed and to also report on fresh updates as well as developments. For this, the team has leads for different regions who collate information from respective countries which goes into a report, prepared every six months, for the committee. India has, in fact, made three submissions each on Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot TRF and also the Peoples Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), an offshoot of the Jaish-e-Mohammed. The first submission was in December 2023, followed by a detailed one in May 2024 for the next report and then in December 2024 for the latest report filed by the MT in February 2025. Chungjie Li, who has worked on counter-terrorism and non-proliferation for the Chinese foreign ministry, took over as the regional lead in May 2024 and impacted both the reports filed last year. The next report is due in a few months for which India is slated to hold a meeting with the MT soon. India's submissions ∙December 2023: India informed the MT that Pakistan has floated several small terror off-shoot groups of the LeT and JeM, namely TRF and PAFF. It put on record that sleeper cells and cadres were recruited online by these groups, following which arms training was also provided. Until then, 27 accused persons had been chargesheeted. Live Events ∙May 2024: India informed that TRF has been proscribed as a LeT front under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for issuing threats on social media. Telegram channels - Resistance Media, Kashmir Fight, TRF Fight and JeM-JFK public - were detailed, where claims of attacks were made alongside postings on the Pulwama attack. ∙December 2024: This report detailed TRF's June 9, 2024, attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in J&K's Reasi, attacks on security personnel and the attack on Z Morh Tunnel site in Ganderbal in which seven persons were killed. A separate set of submissions on PAFF detailed incidents it had claimed, its social media handles and investigation findings of the National Investigation Agency which linked the group to JeM. The next submission will provide details of the Pahalgam attack as well as threats targeting the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. While India's submissions were ignored, the latest February 2025 report of the MT records: "The Balochistan Liberation Army (not listed) claimed that the Majeed Brigade (MB, not listed) carried out several high-casualty attacks in the reporting period." It also has mentions of East Turkestan Islamic Movement as well as its new name Turkistan Islamic Party, an Uighyur outfit active in China's Xinjiang. The report has specifically noted that its numbers are growing in Afghanistan. In the previous report of July 2024, specific mention was made of attacks on Chinese investments in Pakistan. "Two member states note the claims of responsibility by Majeed Brigade (not listed) for the March 2 attack on Gwadar Port Complex and March 26 attack on Naval Air Base Turbat in Pakistan, intended as a warning to foreign investors to withdraw completely." On the other hand, there has been no mention of LeT and JeM in any of these reports under Chungjie Li's watch even though their activities have to be monitored as they are already sanctioned entities. Clearly, those familiar with the details told ET that China has been acting in connivance with Pakistan to block Indian requests. This is a pattern which India also saw while sanctioning individuals from LeT and JeM. In fact, Abdul Rauf Asghar, who was reportedly killed in India's strikes on Bahawalpur, is one such case. India and the US jointly sponsored his case for terror designation but China as permanent member of the UNSC blocked it in 2023 and is yet to remove the hold. Three other LeT terrorists - Sajid Mir, Shahid Mehmood and Talha Saeed - have still not been designated in 1267 sanctions list due to China's hold or objections. As a permanent member, China will always be a member of the 1267 committee. Non-Permanent members also can get into some of these committees. ET has gathered that Pakistan, which is currently a non-permanent UNSC member, has made a bid for this membership.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
From 'jihad' to 'resistance': How Pakistan based terror groups are changing their names to mask their dirty origins
In the winter of 2023, four soldiers lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. An unfamiliar entity, the People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), claimed responsibility. Months later, another attack in Gulmarg resulted in four more deaths, including two soldiers from the Rashtriya Rifles, with PAFF again taking credit. Similarly, in the summer of 2020, a fierce gunbattle erupted in Keran, leading to multiple casualties on both sides. The perpetrators identified themselves as members of The Resistance Front (TRF). These groups, previously unheard of, quickly drew the attention of Indian security agencies. Investigations revealed that PAFF and TRF were not new entities but rebranded versions of the notorious Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), respectively. This rebranding was a calculated move to mask their jihadist roots and present a façade of indigenous resistance. Strategic rebranding: A response to changing political landscapes The abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status, significantly altered the region's political dynamics. In response, militant groups sought to adapt by rebranding themselves. The adoption of secular-sounding names like PAFF and TRF was a strategic effort to align with global narratives of resistance and self-determination, thereby garnering sympathy and support from international human rights organizations and avoiding the stigma associated with Islamist extremism. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo As told to TOI reporter Raj Shekhar Jha, a senior intelligence officer noted, "By adopting monikers, both groups aimed at creating confusion among the people so that their support on the ground remained intact. This tactic, they assumed, would allow their new Mujahideens to maintain a low profile and help Pakistan avoid sanctions, and continue their nefarious activities without arousing suspicion." Also Read: Pahalgam terror attack: The Resistance Front, a proxy for Hafiz Saeed's LeT, hits headlines with Kashmir bloodbath Live Events Exploiting global narratives: The shift to secular terminology The rebranding of these groups was not merely cosmetic but a deliberate attempt to exploit global narratives. By adopting terms like "resistance" and "anti-fascist," these groups aimed to resonate with international audiences and reframe their activities as legitimate struggles against oppression. This shift allowed them to distance themselves from their Islamist origins and present themselves as secular movements fighting for self-determination. As per a Reuters report, Ajai Sahni, head of the South Asia Terrorism Portal, explained, "This is basically a front of the LeT. These are groups which have been created over the last years, particularly when Pakistan was under pressure from the Financial Action Task Force and they were trying to create ... ." Operational continuity under new guises Despite the change in nomenclature, the operational tactics of these groups remained consistent with their predecessors. TRF and PAFF continued to engage in attacks against security forces and civilians, recruit militants, and smuggle weapons and narcotics across borders. Their activities were coordinated and sanctioned by their parent organizations, LeT and JeM, respectively. In January 2023, India's Ministry of Home Affairs declared TRF a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, citing its involvement in various terrorist activities, including recruitment, infiltration, and smuggling of weapons and narc ... from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, PAFF was designated a terrorist organization for its role in radicalizing youth, attacking Indian forces, and participating in violent terrorist acts. TRF's link to the Pahalgam terror attack he Resistance Front (TRF) first surfaced in October 2019, months after the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked. Security officials believe TRF operates as a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), established to give a native appearance to cross-border terrorism. TRF has claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks since then, with its propaganda materials frequently circulated on encrypted channels. In April 2024, the Resistance Front (TRF) emerged as the primary suspect in the Pahalgam terror attack , which resulted in the deaths of security personnel and civilians, including a tourist guide. The attack, carried out using automatic rifles and grenades in a busy tourist district, was marked by the same tactics previously used by LeT operatives. Security forces traced digital communication and intercepted messages pointing to TRF's involvement, reinforcing the belief that the group continues to function as a proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba. The attack prompted renewed concerns about the role of rebranded militant outfits in targeting soft civilian and economic infrastructure, particularly in areas vital to Kashmir's tourism sector. The rebranding of militant groups in Kashmir underscores the evolving nature of insurgency in the region. By adopting secular-sounding names and aligning with global narratives, these groups aim to legitimize their activities and evade international scrutiny. This strategic shift presents new challenges for counter-terrorism efforts, requiring a nuanced understanding of the interplay between local insurgencies and global perceptions. As these groups continue to adapt and evolve, it becomes imperative for security agencies and policymakers to remain vigilant and develop strategies that address both the overt actions and the underlying narratives that sustain such movements.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Why JeM, LeT have 'shed' Islamist identities
Securitymen screen commuters near the site of the terror attack at Pahalgam, in Anantnag Wednesday NEW DELHI: In the winter of 2023, four soldiers were killed in action in J&K's Poonch and an unknown outfit named People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) claimed responsibility for the attack. Months later, it claimed responsibility for another attack in Gulmarg that had resulted in four deaths, including two soldiers from Rashtriya Rifles. In the summer of 2020, a fierce gunbattle broke out in Keran, leading to multiple casualties on both sides, and the terrorists claimed to be from The Resistance Front (TRF). Both outfits had not been heard of before, but their emergence failed to fool too many. It did not take long for Indian agencies to figure out they were offshoots of notorious outfits Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which had sought to camouflage their jihadi orientation by slipping into new sloughs. The tactical sleight of hand and rebranding of the outfits - LeT became TRF and JeM became PAFF - was prompted by the changed political landscape in J&K following abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Rebadging has been an old practice with terrorist outfits but the switch this time to non-Islamist nomenclatures was prompted to curry favour with influential human rights groups in the West, which have been enamoured with claims of "freedom struggle", "self-determination" and "resistance" - in short ruses that terrorist groups employ to woo public opinion in foreign capitals. "With these seemingly innocuous monikers, groups like LeT and JeM cloaked their jihadist ideology and intensified terrorist activities in Kashmir, exploiting the rhetoric of resistance and rights to further their agenda and fuel violence, while also helping their chief backer Pakistan peddle their alibi about terrorism in J&K being a homegrown affair," said an officer from the security establishment. In this case, the additional motivation came from the blows that Indian security forces had inflicted on LeT and JeM while also squeezing their overground supporters, and as the two needed to rally their cadre. "By adopting monikers, both groups aimed at creating confusion among the people so that their support on the ground remained intact. This tactic, they assumed, would allow their new Mujahideens to maintain a low profile and help Pakistan avoid sanctions, and continue their nefarious activities without arousing suspicion," a senior intelligence officer said. Moreover, rebranding enabled them to reinvent their image, potentially appealing to new recruits and sympathisers who were deterred by their previous notoriety. The rebranding was also an attempt to evade global sanctions and dodge the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which had designated LeT as a terrorist organisation. International pressure also prompted Pakistan to pretend to take action against terrorist groups, and it had resorted to putting terrorist leaders under house arrest or imprisoning them.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Jammu to Pahalgam, the terror grid in J&K
The terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of at least 26 tourists on April 22, 2025, has stunned the nation. This is one of the largest attacks on civilians in the Kashmir Valley since the 1990s. Despite the prolonged unrest in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), tourists have rarely been targeted by terrorists since such actions adversely affect the local economy. The attack came against the backdrop of US Vice President JD Vance's visit to India, a booming tourist season, and ahead of the Amarnath Yatra that is due to commence in July. The attack is a message to the local and global audience and aimed at undermining the perception of normalcy in J&K. There is a likely connection between the Pahalgam terror attack and the revival of terrorism in the Jammu division in the last couple of years. The terrorists who executed the dastardly Pahalgam strike are likely those that infiltrated the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu division — in Poonch-Rajouri and Kathua-Samba sectors. The Jammu division, after a decade of calm, has witnessed a resurgence of terror since 2021. Currently, People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) and Kashmir Tigers (KT) are operating in the Jammu division with almost clearly earmarked Area of Operations. Based on our open-source intelligence analyses, we found that between April 2024 and March 2025 there were 16 incidents of firing between the security forces and terrorists. In these firings, 11 terrorists were killed and 14 security personnel died. Kathua shares the border with Pathankot in Punjab and Chamba in Himachal Pradesh (HP). Kishtwar and Doda also share the border with Chamba. In face of mounting pressure in Doda-Kathua-Kishtwar-Udhampur (DKKU) region, a likelihood of the terrorists moving into Chamba cannot be ruled out. Since July 2024, the government has also beefed up the security apparatus in the Jammu division, with measures such as the induction of 500 commandos and the creation of a permanent National Security Guard (NSG) hub in Jammu City. Despite this revamp, infiltration through the international border (IB) has continued. The Indian Army's 16 Corps under Northern Command is deployed along the LoC and in the hinterland of Jammu division, working effectively with the Rashtriya Rifles (RR), and Jammu and Kashmir Police (JAKP) in a multi-tiered counter-infiltration and counterterrorism (CT) grid. However, a similar grid is non-existent in the IB sectors of Kathua and Samba where the BSF is deployed in the show-window and the hinterland is manned by Yol-based 9 Corps under Western Command that is not deployed in a CT role and is oriented for more conventional roles. The deployments in Kathua-Samba sector present a fault line owing to the jurisdictional overlap between the home ministry which controls the BSF and the defence ministry which controls Northern and Western Commands. Lack of real-time coordination and intelligence-sharing coupled with a weaker CT grid and ambiguous accountability of different agencies have worked to the advantage of terrorists in DKKU. The redeployment of the Uniform Force of RR, from Ladakh back to Reasi in Jammu division, is expected to strengthen the CT grid by filling up the void that was exploited by the terror groups. Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar have a CT grid in place, but the lack of a similar deployment in Kathua weakens the overall disposition. Strengthening the security grid in Kathua requires a comprehensive approach involving the RR, BSF and JAKP. The anti-infiltration grid along the LoC has been strengthened in the past few years and this is evident from the decreasing number of infiltrations in Kashmir division. Addressing the existing gaps along the IB is a necessity to establish dominance and operational superiority in the region. It is the existing gaps in the IB sector to include Samba-Kathua region that has been exploited for consolidation by terror cadres to build up for striking in Pahalgam. According to media reports, The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has claimed the Pahalgam strike, although this has not been conveyed through TRF's social media handle. Involvement of the Kashmir Tigers cadres in the Pahalgam strike remains a possibility. Irrespective of the outfits involved, the signatures of Pakistan and ISI are more than evident, with intent to divert attention from the multiple crises faced by Pakistan. Considering present voids in the Kathua-Samba sector, there is a need to revisit the deployment of security forces in DKKU. The effectiveness of redeployment must be a function of various security agencies working out an integrated plan and joint execution. In addition, a strategic messaging requires to be carried on part of the government to convey that the claims of the terror groups like TRF, KT and PAFF being about the interests of local population is hollow -- given the fact that tourists were targeted in Pahalgam with obvious adverse fallouts on the local economy and livelihoods. Also, there is a necessity of re-forming a Unified Command in J&K, involving all security agencies and the local government for a seamless counter terror campaign. At the macro level, with no diplomatic exchange taking place with Pakistan, perhaps the government is left with minimal options but to send a military message to Rawalpindi that controls the terror groups in J&K. Shashank Ranjan (retd) is a former colonel of the Indian Army with substantial experience of serving in counter-terror environments, and presently teaches at OP Jindal Global University. Mohit Vashisth is a doctoral candidate at OP Jindal Global University. The views expressed are personal
Associated Press
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
GROUNDBREAKING INDIE FILMMAKER MATTY RICH IS BACK, AND BEHIND THE LENS OF HIS NEW FILM SET TO PREMIERE AT PAFF
Groundbreaking indie filmmaker Matty Rich is back, and behind the lens of his new film, 'Birth of the Black Underworld,' set to premiere at PAFF 'It feels good to be back in the director's chair, bringing a film to life that's been burning inside of me for more than a decade!' — Matty Rich, director LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, February 10, 2025 / / -- Known for his gritty film content, pioneering, award-winning indie filmmaker Matty Rich has sparked excitement with his long-awaited return to filmmaking. His new film, BIRTH OF THE BLACK UNDERWORLD, starring Frank Stallone, Jack Scalia, Rhonda Morman as well as Rich is an official selection of the 2025 Pan African Film Festival. The screening will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at the Culver Theater, located at 9500 Culver City, Calif. There will be a Q &A with Rich and the rest of the cast immediately following the screening. The 33rd Pan African Film Festival runs from February 4 through 17, 2025. For tickets to the screening, visit the festival's website at 'It feels good to be back in the director's chair, bringing a film to life that's been burning inside of me for more than a decade!' said Rich. 'For two years, we filmed BIRTH OF THE BLACK UNDERWORLD on the weekends. The cast and crew were incredible, and their love and confidence in the project made me determined to finished it.' Rich added, 'Even when there was no money, I continued writing, scheduling, praying and using my paychecks from teaching film school at AFI and Sundance to complete the project. And here we are … at the finish line!' ABOUT BIRTH OF THE BLACK UNDERWORLD | Feature Narrative | 120 minutes Movie Synopsis Written, directed and produced by Matty Rich, BIRTH OF THE BLACK UNDERWORLD is a gripping drama and heartfelt love story, starring Grammy and Golden Globe-nominated artist and actor Frank Stallone as well as Rhonda Morman and legendary television heartthrob actor Jack Scalia, Thomas Copeland Jr. and Matty Rich. Set in the 1930s, BIRTH OF THE BLACK UNDERWORLD takes viewers on a fascinating journey into the makings of the Black underworld and the evolving mindsets of a pack of young, would-be gangsters tied to the mafia. The group is led by Satterfield Jackson (Matty Rich), an orphan taken in by respected Italian mobster Marco Ricci (Frank Stallone), who has ties to both the Italian and Jewish mafias. Marco and Satterfield develop a father-son bond -- and like any father would do -- Ricci grooms Satterfield for the real world: The Underworld. ABOUT MATTY RICH | writer, director, producer Highly regarded as one of the pioneers of independent Black filmmaking, Matty Rich burst onto the Hollywood scene in 1991 as the 19-year-old writer, director, actor and producer of his award-winning film STRAIGHT OUT OF BROOKLYN. Rich was discovered by Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme (RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, PHILADELPHIA) during an editing session of the eventual Oscar-winning film, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. Demme took Rich under his wing and STRAIGHT OUT OF BROOKLYN became a huge success after winning the Sundance Film Festival's coveted Grand Jury Prize Award. The indie film, distributed by Samuel Goldwin, earned critical acclaim and went on to sweep the awards season, picking up the Independent Spirit Award, NAACP Image Award, the Producers Guild Award and the Big Apple Award. Shortly thereafter, Rich was inducted into the Directors Guild of America (DGA) by African American Hollywood icons Sidney Poitier and Bill Duke. Rich also directed the summer hit and now cult classic, THE INKWELL, which along with STRAIGHT OUT OF BROOKLYN, are considered 'must see' classic, Black films. Rich's other credits include development of several television projects, including RED HOOK as writer and creator for Warner Brothers/Fox Network; a Tupac Shakur bio project for HBO, and SUBWAY SCHOLAR with Whitney Houston for Showtime Network -- just ,to name a few. Currently, Rich is a screenwriting faculty member at the American Film Institute (AFI) where he teaches screenplay writing and video game writing as well as serving as a cycle development mentor and thesis film mentor. In addition, he also serves as a writing and directing advisor for Sundance Film Festival Co//AB online platform. He also teaches virtual screenplay workshops in Africa – that is, Ghana and Kenya, respectively. #### Wyllisa R Bennett wrb public relations +1 310-266-9704
