US declares Lashkar proxy TRF a terror group after Pahalgam attack

The US has designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba which had initially claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terrorist attack, a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) and specially designated global terrorist (SDGT), a decision hailed by external affairs minister S Jaishankar as a "strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation".

The US State Department said in a statement, "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."

It said the action demonstrated the Donald Trump administration's commitment to protecting its national security interests, countering terrorism and "enforcing President Trump's call for justice for the Pahalgam attack".


External affairs minister S Jaishankar described the US decision as a "strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation".

The development comes as a shot in the arm for India, strengthening its case against TRF in the UN 1267 sanctions committee and ahead of the debate in the United Nations (UN) next week on international security matters, according to people familiar with the matter. India can now push for relisting Pakistan on the Financial Action Task Force's grey list, citing the country's failure to curb terrorism financing, they said.

An Indian technical team had met with top UN counterterrorism officials in New York in May for a wide-ranging discussion on enhancing cooperation in the fight against terrorism including designation of TRF by 1267 sanctions committee. India held multiple discussions with the US on TRF, including during the visit of foreign secretary Vikram Misri to Washington from May 27-29, the people said.

Earlier, Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar had claimed in his country's parliament that Pakistan got the reference to TRF removed from the UN Security Council (UNSC) statement on the Pahalgam terrorist attack. While the US and France backed India, China backed Pakistan in removing TRF from the UNSC statement. Pakistan is currently a non-permanent member of the UNSC.

On Friday, the external affairs ministry said regarding the US decision, "We acknowledge and appreciate the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in this regard."