New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has unearthed a major foreign funding network linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) proxy responsible for the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists, officials said.
Investigators traced 463 phone calls connected to anti-India elements and extremist supporters, with links pointing to Pakistan, Malaysia, and Gulf nations as key funding sources. One channel identified was through Malaysian resident Yasir Hayat, who allegedly routed about ₹9 lakh to TRF. The group’s network has also been tied to Sajid Mir, one of LeT’s most wanted terrorists.
The findings, backed by mobile data, bank transactions, social media chats, and call records, were strengthened after NIA raids in Srinagar and Handwara that yielded key documents and financial details of TRF’s overseas links.
Officials believe the revelations provide India with strong evidence to present before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), underscoring Pakistan’s role in sponsoring terrorism. India has been pressing for Islamabad’s return to FATF’s “grey list” of countries under enhanced scrutiny.
Pakistan was first placed on the list in June 2018 for failing to curb terror financing and was removed in September 2022 after FATF deemed compliance. Experts warn that any return to the list would trigger tighter monitoring, worsen Pakistan’s debt crisis, and make access to global financial aid more difficult. (Agencies)
