In a significant move to intensify global counterterrorism efforts, the United States Department of State on Thursday designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The TRF had claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians—the deadliest such incident in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Announcing the designation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the TRF operates as a front and proxy for Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based terrorist group already designated by the United States. "TRF has also been responsible for multiple attacks targeting Indian security forces, including several incidents in 2024," the statement noted.
The designation, made under Section 219 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, will impose strict sanctions on TRF, freezing its assets in the U.S. and prohibiting any U.S. citizens or entities from engaging with it.
The State Department emphasized that this action underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to global security and justice. "These actions demonstrate the Trump Administration's dedication to protecting national interests, countering terrorism, and responding to the Pahalgam attack," the statement said.
The TRF’s designation, along with associated aliases, has been added to LeT's existing FTO and SDGT status. These amendments will come into effect upon publication in the Federal Register.