Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Reacting to the US designating The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar lauded the decision and termed it a strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said on July 18, “A strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation. Appreciate @SecRubio and @StateDept for designating TRF—a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) proxy—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). It claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Zero tolerance for Terrorism. #OpSindoor.”
Earlier on July 17, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, made the official announcement stating that the decision reinforces the Trump administration’s commitment to combating terrorism and responding firmly to acts of violence targeting civilians. “This action 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,” Rubio said. He added that TRF is being added to the list of designated Foreign Terrorist Organisations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists under relevant US laws and executive orders.
“TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians,” Rubio stated. “This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by LeT,” he further noted. The designation is expected to restrict TRF’s access to financial networks, increase international scrutiny of its operatives, and add pressure on Pakistan-based terror networks that have long targeted India.
