U.S. Declares ‘The Resistance Front’ as Terrorists Following Deadly Pahalgam Attack

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The United States has officially designated ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF) as a terrorist organization following its involvement in the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed. The declaration was made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who described TRF as a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based group already listed as a terrorist organization by the United Nations.

In a report from Hindustan Times, Rubio said, “This designation demonstrates the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Donald Trump’s call for justice for the Pahalgam attack.”

On April 22, heavily armed militants descended from the Baisaran Valley and opened fire on civilians in the tourist-heavy town of Pahalgam. The attack left 26 people dead and drew sharp international condemnation. The Resistance Front later claimed responsibility.

The U.S. designation adds TRF to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), enabling financial and legal measures to be taken against individuals or entities that support or engage with the group. Rubio stated that the TRF operates under the command and strategy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has a long history of attacks in India, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Shortly after the Pahalgam incident, President Donald Trump called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express condolences and solidarity. According to reports, Trump said, “That was a bad one,” referring to the April attack, while aboard Air Force One. He emphasized U.S. support, stating that “the U.S. stands with India in its fight against terrorism and offers all possible assistance.”

Prime Minister Modi, in turn, thanked the U.S. President and reaffirmed India’s resolve to bring those responsible to justice.

The U.S. designation is expected to increase pressure on Pakistan to act against groups operating within its territory, particularly those accused of sponsoring or sheltering terrorist factions targeting neighboring countries.

This move signals a continued U.S.-India alignment on counterterrorism and a reaffirmation of American policy toward state-sponsored proxy groups operating across South Asia.