India Applauds US Designation of Pahalgam Attack Terror Group

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India has expressed strong appreciation for the United States’ decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). This move by the US Department of State, announced on Thursday, July 17, has been lauded by India as a significant step in the global fight against terrorism and a clear demonstration of robust counter-terrorism cooperation between the two nations.

The Resistance Front gained notoriety for claiming responsibility for the brutal April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. This incident marked the deadliest assault on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were also carried out by LeT. The TRF has also been implicated in several other attacks against Indian security forces, including recent incidents in 2024.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in announcing the designation, underscored Washington’s unwavering commitment to countering terrorism. He stated that the action against TRF “demonstrates the [US] administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President [Donald] Trump’s call for justice for the Pahalgam attack.” The designation adds TRF and its associated aliases to LeT’s existing FTO and SDGT designations, reinforcing the legal and financial measures against the terror network.

Reacting to the development, the Indian Embassy in Washington posted on social media, expressing gratitude to the US government. “Another demonstration of strong India-USA counter-terrorism cooperation,” the Embassy stated, reiterating India’s “ZERO TOLERANCE for terrorism!” Furthermore, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar echoed this sentiment, calling the US action a “strong affirmation” of counter-terrorism cooperation. He thanked Secretary Rubio and the State Department, noting TRF’s open claim of responsibility for the deadly Pahalgam attack and connecting it to India’s “Operation Sindoor,” a retaliatory action launched by India earlier.

The US designation is seen as a crucial diplomatic victory for India, validating its long-standing concerns regarding cross-border terrorism and the groups operating from beyond its borders. It sends a strong message to those who support or facilitate such acts of violence, strengthening the international framework for holding terrorist organizations accountable and disrupting their operations. This decisive action by the United States highlights the critical role of international cooperation in confronting the persistent threat of terrorism.