New Delhi, July 19: The United States has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) after the group claimed responsibility for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians — the deadliest such attack since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
In a related development, China strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stating, “China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns the terrorist attack.” He also called for greater regional cooperation to ensure peace and stability.
The development comes amid rising tensions, as India’s Deputy Army Chief Lt. Gen. Singh recently alleged that China provided Pakistan with real-time intelligence on Indian military positions during Operation Sindoor, stating, “Pakistan had live updates of our vector positions courtesy of China.”
The U.S. move marks a significant shift in counterterror efforts, placing international pressure on Pakistan and groups like TRF that operate with proxy support. The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, confirmed TRF’s involvement in multiple attacks against Indian security forces, especially in 2024.
This series of events unfolds against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny over China’s strategic role in South Asia and renewed calls for transparency and accountability in cross-border intelligence-sharing practices.
