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News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
'You Don't Get A Pass, You Get Justice': US House Foreign Affairs Panel Hails TRF Terror Tag
Last Updated: The panel also reiterated its criticism of global media coverage of the Pahalgam attack, accusing outlets of downplaying what it called a clear act of terrorism The US Republican Majority on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs has welcomed the designation of Pakistan-based The Resistance Front (TRF) as a global terrorist outfit. The group, which the US designated as a proxy of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) in its announcement, was labelled both a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). 'The Resistance Front is a foreign terrorist organization and deserves the designation," the committee's official X handle posted. 'When you butcher civilians, you don't get a pass—you get JUSTICE." President Trump calls it like it is. The Resistance Front is a foreign terrorist organization and deserves the you butcher civilians, you don't get a pass—you get JUSTICE. — House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) July 19, 2025 The announcement was made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, less than three months after the April 22 massacre in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where TRF claimed responsibility for the killing of 26 civilians. It was one of the deadliest attacks targeting civilians in the region in recent years. The Resistance Front first emerged in Kashmir in 2019, shortly after the abrogation of Article 370. It was widely seen as an attempt by Lashkar-e-Tayyiba to rebrand its operations under a new name to avoid global scrutiny. Since then, TRF has claimed responsibility for several attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, many of which have targeted off-duty security personnel, civilians from outside the region, and minority communities. The FTO and SDGT designations trigger sweeping measures including financial sanctions, asset freezes, visa bans, and criminal penalties for those providing any form of material support to the group. TRF, the State Department noted, serves as a front for LeT, an internationally proscribed terror group, and operates to obscure the latter's direct involvement in attacks. Indian authorities have repeatedly raised concerns over such proxy outfits being used to bypass global sanctions. On July 19, the committee also cited its earlier post from April 23, in which it had criticised international media coverage of the Pahalgam attack — particularly a New York Times headline that read: 'At Least 24 Tourists Gunned Down by Militants in Kashmir." At the time, the committee had responded with a corrected graphic, replacing the word 'militants" with 'terrorists" in bold red, writing: 'Hey, @nytimes, we fixed it for you. This was a terrorist attack plain and simple. Whether it's India or Israel, when it comes to terrorism, the NYT is removed from reality." Reposting that on July 19, the committee reaffirmed: 'It was a terrorist attack — simple and straightforward." It was a terrorist attack—simple and straightforward. — House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) July 19, 2025 The House Foreign Affairs Committee is a permanent committee in the US House of Representatives. It handles bills and investigations related to America's foreign relations. The latest US action is expected to bolster international scrutiny of Pakistan-based terror proxies, particularly at forums like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), where the country's counterterror commitments remain under watch. India welcomed the US decision, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar describing it as a 'strong affirmation" of India-US counter-terror cooperation. 'Appreciate @SecRubio and @StateDept for designating TRF—a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) proxy—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). It claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Zero tolerance for Terrorism. #OpSindoor," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar posted on X. Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 12:46 IST News world 'You Don't Get A Pass, You Get Justice': US House Foreign Affairs Panel Hails TRF Terror Tag Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
TRF a proxy of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, say security forces
The Resistance Front (TRF), now designated by the United States as a global terror outfit, is a proxy of Pakistan-based proscribed group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The outfit was floated in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 to evade international sanctions against Pakistan, according to Indian security agencies. TRF has carried out terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir's Keran, Handwara, Sopore, Shopian, Anantnag, Reasi, and Pahalgam. Notable attacks include the Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025; the killing of nine Hindu pilgrims in Reasi on June 9, 2024; the murder of six migrant labourers and a doctor in Ganderbal on October 20, 2024, the killing of three Army and police personnel in Anantnag on September 13, 2023; and the murder of a BJP leader and two of his family members on, July 8, 2020. The Indian government designated the outfit as a terror organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in January 2023. Founded by Muhammad Abbas Sheikh (now deceased) in October 2019, it is currently headed by designated terrorist Sheikh Sajjad Gul. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has declared a reward of ₹10 lakh for him. 'Muhammad Abbas Sheikh, previously associated with Hizbul Mujahideen, played a key role in setting up TRF. He was killed in an encounter with security forces on August 23, 2021. After his death, Basit Ahmed Dar aka Abu Kamran, became its chief operational commander. He was also killed in an encounter on May 7, 2024, in Jammu & Kashmir's Kulgam,' said an official. The current TRF chief was allegedly a part of the conspiracy to assassinate prominent Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari in 2018. 'Gul was instrumental in launching TRF's digital media platform 'Kashmir Fight', through which threats were also issued to migrant Kashmiri Pandit employees,' the official said. Via 'Kashmir Fight', TRF indulges in anti-India propaganda, campaigns for recruitment, and also claims responsibility for attacks. Its website was registered on December 10, 2024, through an entity said to be based in Iceland. TRF has a presence on several digital platforms, including Mastodon, Chirpwire, and BiP. 'TRF usually focused on security forces and political figures, but late 2024 onward it started to target infrastructure projects and civilians, including non-locals, in Jammu & Kashmir,' the official said. Citing its direct role in the Pahalgam attack, the U.S. has formally designated TRF as a foreign terrorist organisation and a specially designated global terrorist entity. 'The U.S. statement acknowledges TRF's links with LeT and Pakistan Army; General Asim Munir's role; and the legitimacy of India's calibrated military response through 'Operation Sindoor' that was aimed at neutralising the terror launchpads,' the official said.
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
U.S. Lists Group Behind Indian Kashmir Killings As Terrorists
The United States designated a Muslim militant group a "foreign terrorist organization" over an attack on Indian tourists in the Kashmir region in April in which 26 people were killed, saying the organization was a front for Pakistan-based Islamists who have been battling Indian forces in the disputed Himalayan region for decades. The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility for the April 22 attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, which ramped up tensions between India and Pakistan and sparked a four-day war between the nuclear-armed rivals in May. The TRF later disavowed responsibility for the attack on Hindu tourists but U.S. and Indian security organizations dismissed the group's attempt to shirk responsibility. Newsweek reached out to Pakistan's foreign ministry for comment. The U.S. listing of the group as a "foreign terrorist organization" and "specially designated global terrorist" upholds U.S. opposition to Islamist militancy and demonstrates support for Hindu-majority India as it tries to end a simmering separatist insurgency in Muslim-majority Kashmir, for which it blames Pakistan. ThePahalgam attack prompted the worst confrontation between India and Pakistan in decades, with India attacking what it said were terrorist targets inside Pakistan. Pakistan rejected allegations of cross-border involvement in that or other attacks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the TRF was a "front and proxy" for the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani group responsible for some of the most deadly attacks in India over the past 20 years. The United States designated it a terrorist group in 2001. "These actions taken by the Department of State 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," Rubio said in a statement. Hindu-majority India and Muslim Pakistan both claim Kashmir and rule over parts of it. Muslim militants, most of whom call for Indian Kashmir to be ruled by Pakistan, have been battling security forces in the Indian part of Kashmir since the late 1980s. India accuses Pakistan of supporting the militants. Pakistan denies that but says it supports the people of Kashmir in their quest for self-determination. Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar referred to the perpetrators of the April attack as "freedom fighters", drawing criticism in India and the U.S. India welcomed the U.S. designation. "A strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation," Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on the X social media platform. "Zero tolerance for Terrorism," he added. The U.S. decision adds the TRF "and other associated aliases" to the Lashkar-e-Taiba designation as a terrorist group, the State Department said, making it illegal for any U.S. individual or entity to knowingly provide material support. The group's U.S.-linked assets, if any, are subject to immediate freeze. The April attack triggered Operation Sindoor on May 7, an Indian military operation targeting what it described as "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistani-controlled territory. A ceasefire was brokered on May 10, with Trump publicly claiming a role in the de-escalation. India has long maintained opposition to any mediation in its dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir and it denied any U.S. role in ending its latest war with its neighbor. Indian government spokesperson: "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." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio: "These actions taken by the Department of State 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." The May 10 ceasefire has held but India has vowed to respond to any new militant attack in its part of Kashmir or anywhere else in India. Related Articles Full List as Supreme Court Rules for Donald Trump 15 Times in a RowHow Will Putin React to Trump's Ukraine Pivot? Newsweek Contributors DebateChina's Global Popularity Rises as US StumblesChina Denounces US Tariff "Bullying" 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
United News of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
TRF designated as terrorist outfit was behind Valley's several deadly attacks
Srinagar, July 18 (UNI) The Resistance Front (TRF), which has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the US , came into existence after abrogation of Article 370 and revocation of special status to J&K in August 2019. The TRF, widely considered a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), had initially claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack which left 26 civilians dead, but backtracked days later. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officially designated TRF as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in January 2023, for propaganda on terror activities, recruitment of terrorists, infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir. Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir, believe that TRF was created by Pakistan to give militancy in Kashmir a more "localized" appearance. 'The terror groups like Lashkar and Jaish-e-Mohammad carried religious connotations, which Pakistan wanted to avoid due to increased scrutiny of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF),' a senior security official said. 'To project the militancy in Kashmir as a local, indigenous movement rather than one driven by religious extremism, they shifted to terminology like 'Resistance' — a term that holds broader acceptance and resonance in global political discourse.' Security agencies in J&K said that the TRF besides Pahalagam attack has been responsible for a series of attacks over the last few years which included the June 9, 2024 attack on pilgrims in Reasi district that left nine people dead. TRF started taking responsibility for attacks in 2020. In October 2024, the TRF was also accused of being behind the attack on infrastructure workers in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir that left seven people, including a doctor, dead. The TRF, officials said, was involved in an encounter on September 13, 2023 at Gadole forest in Kokernag Anantnag in which an Army Colonel, a Major, a Deputy Superintendent of J&K Police were killed. During the initial shootout, another soldier was also injured and his body was found on the third day of the operation. The first major attack by TRF in Kashmir was carried out on July 8, 2020 when BJP leader Wasim Bari, his father and brother were killed in Bandipora district. Security officials said that TRF's first chief operational commander was Mohammad Abbas Sheikh, a resident of south Kashmir's Kulgam district. Sheikh is believed to have played a significant role in establishing TRF and also motivating several youth to join militant ranks. He was killed in a gun battle in August 2021 in Srinagar. Following Sheikh's death, Basit Ahmed Dar, also a resident of Kulgam, took reins of the TRF. He was killed by security forces in May 2024. Security officials said the TRF is now headed by Sajjad Gul who has been designated as a terrorist under the UAPA, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has placed a reward of Rs 10lakh on his head. Gul who hails from Srinagar is reportedly based in Pakistan. They said Gul also masterminded the 'Kashmir Fight' social media platform, which issued threats to civilians, 'aiming to instill fear and disrupt communal harmony.' UNI MJR PRS
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
U.S. Lists Group Behind Indian Kashmir Killings As Terrorists
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States designated a Muslim militant group a "foreign terrorist organization" over an attack on Indian tourists in the Kashmir region in April in which 26 people were killed, saying the organization was a front for Pakistan-based Islamists who have been battling Indian forces in the disputed Himalayan region for decades. The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility for the April 22 attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, which ramped up tensions between India and Pakistan and sparked a four-day war between the nuclear-armed rivals in May. The TRF later disavowed responsibility for the attack on Hindu tourists but U.S. and Indian security organizations dismissed the group's attempt to shirk responsibility. Newsweek reached out to Pakistan's foreign ministry for comment. An Indian paramilitary soldier on guard on the bank of the Dal lake in Indian Kashmir following an attack on Indian tourists in the region by gunmen on April 24, 2025. The U.S. has designated... An Indian paramilitary soldier on guard on the bank of the Dal lake in Indian Kashmir following an attack on Indian tourists in the region by gunmen on April 24, 2025. The U.S. has designated the group deemed responsible for the attack a terrorist organization. MoreWhy It Matters The U.S. listing of the group as a "foreign terrorist organization" and "specially designated global terrorist" upholds U.S. opposition to Islamist militancy and demonstrates support for Hindu-majority India as it tries to end a simmering separatist insurgency in Muslim-majority Kashmir, for which it blames Pakistan. ThePahalgam attack prompted the worst confrontation between India and Pakistan in decades, with India attacking what it said were terrorist targets inside Pakistan. Pakistan rejected allegations of cross-border involvement in that or other attacks. What To Know Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the TRF was a "front and proxy" for the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani group responsible for some of the most deadly attacks in India over the past 20 years. The United States designated it a terrorist group in 2001. "These actions taken by the Department of State 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," Rubio said in a statement. Hindu-majority India and Muslim Pakistan both claim Kashmir and rule over parts of it. Muslim militants, most of whom call for Indian Kashmir to be ruled by Pakistan, have been battling security forces in the Indian part of Kashmir since the late 1980s. India accuses Pakistan of supporting the militants. Pakistan denies that but says it supports the people of Kashmir in their quest for self-determination. Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar referred to the perpetrators of the April attack as "freedom fighters", drawing criticism in India and the U.S. India welcomed the U.S. designation. "A strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation," Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on the X social media platform. "Zero tolerance for Terrorism," he added. The U.S. decision adds the TRF "and other associated aliases" to the Lashkar-e-Taiba designation as a terrorist group, the State Department said, making it illegal for any U.S. individual or entity to knowingly provide material support. The group's U.S.-linked assets, if any, are subject to immediate freeze. The April attack triggered Operation Sindoor on May 7, an Indian military operation targeting what it described as "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistani-controlled territory. A ceasefire was brokered on May 10, with Trump publicly claiming a role in the de-escalation. India has long maintained opposition to any mediation in its dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir and it denied any U.S. role in ending its latest war with its neighbor. What People Are Saying Indian government spokesperson: "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." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio: "These actions taken by the Department of State 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." What Happens Next The May 10 ceasefire has held but India has vowed to respond to any new militant attack in its part of Kashmir or anywhere else in India.
