Latest news with #counterterrorism
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
"When you butcher civilians, you don't get a pass": Trump backs TRF terror designation
Washington: The US House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority on Saturday said President Donald Trump strongly backed the administration's decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, calling it a deserved move against those responsible for killing civilians in India. "President Trump calls it like it is. The Resistance Front is a foreign terrorist organisation and deserves the designation. When you butcher civilians, you don't get a pass--you get JUSTICE," the Committee posted on X. The Resistance Front, a proxy group of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), had claimed responsibility for the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam area that killed 26 civilians. The attack also triggered a four-day military escalation between India and Pakistan. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar welcomed the move, calling it a strong step in the global fight against terrorism. He said the action reflected growing India-US counter-terrorism cooperation. "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 his social media platform X. In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision to designate TRF under US anti-terrorism laws was based on its direct involvement in the Pahalgam attack and its known links with LeT. The United States noted that the Pahalgam incident was the deadliest civilian attack in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were also carried out by LeT. The US State Department further stated that TRF has been involved in multiple attacks on Indian security forces, including in 2024. The move, the US government said, reinforced the Trump administration's long-standing commitment to global counter-terrorism and signalled a message that terrorist proxies will not be spared.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
Three women on terror charges after van driven into defence factory fence in Edinburgh
Three women have been charged under the Terrorism Act after a van was driven into the fence of a defence factory in Edinburgh. The incident happened at the Leonardo facility on Crewe Road North on Tuesday. Police said on Sunday that three women, aged 31, 34 and 42, who had earlier been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000, had now been charged. They are due to appear at Edinburgh sheriff court on Monday. Police Scotland said their counter-terrorism unit was leading the investigation and inquiries were ongoing. The force also issued an appeal for information to trace the movements of two vehicles. One was a blue Ford Transit van, seen around Gorgie Road on Monday and Tuesday prior to the incident. The other was a white Honda CR-Z, which was found in a car park on Gorgie Road after the incident. Police have asked anyone with information to get in touch by calling 101, quoting reference number 0416 of 15 July. Following the incident on Tuesday, a group called Shut Down Leonardo said the factory made laser targeting systems for Israel's F-35 fighter jets. Leonardo has said it does not supply equipment directly to Israel and its main customer is the UK armed forces.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
China "strongly" condemns Pahalgam attack, calls on regional countries to enhance counter terrorism ops
Beijing: After the United States designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), China has condemned the April 22 Pahalgam attack, calling for greater regional cooperation to counter terrorism and ensure stability. China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian lauded the effort of the US in helping combat terrorist activities. When asked about the US State Department's effort by designating The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organisation, Lin said that China condemns all forms of terrorism. "China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns the terrorist attack that occurred on April 22. China calls on regional countries to enhance counterterrorism cooperation and jointly maintain regional security and stability," he said. The US Department of State on Thursday (local time) designated The Resistance Front (TRF). In a statement issued by the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, the statement acknowledged the fact that the organisation claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The US, therefore, accorded the TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). "Today, the Department of State is adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. 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 statement read. The statement said that this action demonstrated the US President Donald Trump administration's commitment to countering terrorism. "These actions taken by the Department of State demonstrate 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 statement said. "TRF and other associated aliases have been added to LeT's designation as a FTO and SDGT pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, respectively. The Department of State has also reviewed and maintained the FTO designation of LeT. Amendments to FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register," the statement added.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
U.S. swaps Venezuelans sent to El Salvador for Americans held by Caracas
More than 250 Venezuelans deported in March by the Trump administration and flown to El Salvador's high security 'counterterrorism' prison were sent home Friday in exchange for 1o U.S. citizens imprisoned in Venezuela by the government of President Nicolás Maduro. In a carefully coordinated series of events following months of negotiations by the State Department, the Venezuelans were bused from the prison to El Salvador's international airport Friday morning and picked up by an aircraft sent from Venezuela. Simultaneously, a U.S.-chartered Gulfstream plane departed a small Georgia airport carrying U.S. diplomatic officials and medical personnel en route to Caracas.
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
US designates Lashkar's proxy TRF as 'Foreign Terrorist Organisation'
Washington DC: US Department of State on Thursday (local time) designated The Resistance Front (TRF), group behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, as a terrorist organisation. In a statement issued by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the statement acknowledged the fact that the organisation claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The US, therefore, accorded the TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). "Today, the Department of State is adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. 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 statement read. The statement said that this action demonstrated the US President Donald Trump administration's commitment of countering terrorism. "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 statement said. "TRF and other associated aliases have been added to LeT's designation as a FTO and SDGT pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, respectively. The Department of State has also reviewed and maintained the FTO designation of LeT. Amendments to FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register," the statement added. What This Designation Enables The FTO and SDGT designations give the U.S. government legal and financial powers to disrupt TRF globally: Material support is now a crime. Under U.S. law, providing money, weapons, training, technology, or services to TRF is punishable by up to 20 years in prison or life if deaths result. TRF-linked assets can be frozen. Any funds that touch the U.S. financial system can be seized. This includes shell companies, crypto accounts, and any channel connected to global banking networks. Secondary sanctions apply. Any entity or individual doing business with TRF can be penalized. This affects banks, suppliers, media platforms, and anyone who enables the group's operations. TRF members are blocked from entering the United States. Those already present are subject to removal. Intelligence targeting can escalate. TRF is now a legal priority for surveillance, watchlisting, international coordination, and counterterror action. Extraditions and criminal cases can be pursued globally. The designation allows the U.S. to work with allies on arrests and prosecutions. A Strategic Win for India India designated TRF a terrorist group in 2023, but international recognition lagged. That changed today. The U.S. designation supports India's case at the United Nations and gives momentum to the push for TRF's listing under the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee. This move must not be the final step. It should now lead directly to a United Nations designation of TRF as a global terrorist entity. That would impose binding obligations on all member states to freeze TRF assets, block travel, and cut off arms flows. The U.S. designation gives India the strongest possible platform to press for that action. Operation Sindoor Changed the Game India did not wait for global consensus. It acted. Following the Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, a limited war targeting the very infrastructure used by groups like TRF and LeT. The operation was precise, swift, and decisive. India demonstrated that it would no longer rely on restraint alone. It unveiled a new doctrine that prioritizes deterrence through dominance and punishment through credible force. This was not just a counterterror response. It was a signal. India revealed its ability to combine intelligence, precision airpower, and indigenous technology into a short, high-intensity campaign that achieved clear strategic effects. TRF was not just named. It was hit. Now the United States has followed with the diplomatic and legal strike. The designation makes TRF radioactive. Anyone associated with it, whether a fundraiser in Dubai, or a supplier moving weapons into Kashmir, can now be hit with sanctions, criminal charges, and global blacklisting. This is not just about the men pulling the trigger. It is about the network that equips, funds, and protects them.
