The US Department of State declared The Resistance Front (TRF) a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in July 2025. This move follows TRF’s claim of responsibility for the deadly April 2025 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. India welcomed the decision as a strong sign of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation. TRF is widely understood as a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Background of The Resistance Front
The Resistance Front emerged publicly in 2020 amid rising militancy in Kashmir. It surfaced after blows to Lashkar-e-Taiba’s leadership in 2018 and the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019. The group is believed to be an offshoot of LeT, created to appear more secular and indigenous, distancing itself from the religious identity linked to LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad.
Origins and Growth
Lashkar-e-Taiba was founded in 1985 with the goal of merging Kashmir with Pakistan. By late 2018, Indian security forces had eliminated much of its top leadership in Kashmir. This weakened LeT’s operational capacity. Following the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, Pakistan reportedly sought a militant group that could operate under a less religious guise to avoid international scrutiny, especially from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Operational Tactics and Training
The Resistance Front combines local and foreign militants who undergo rigorous training, reportedly lasting six months or more in Pakistan. Unlike local groups, TRF militants are better trained and organised. The group actively uses social media platforms like Facebook, Telegram, and WhatsApp to spread propaganda and claim attacks.
Indian and International Responses
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs declared TRF a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in January 2023. The group is accused of recruitment, propaganda, infiltration, and smuggling arms and narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir. The US designation seeks to restrict TRF’s financial and operational networks globally by prohibiting material support and blocking assets.
Significance of US Designation
Designation as an FTO and SDGT under US law allows the government to freeze assets, ban transactions, and penalise supporters. It also deters international financial institutions from engaging with the group. The US currently recognises nearly 79 organisations as FTOs, including Hezbollah and al-Qaeda. Such designations enhance global counter-terrorism efforts and cooperation.
Impact on Regional Security
The designation strengthens the global stance against militancy in Kashmir. It signals a coordinated effort between India and the US to curb terrorism financing and operations. The move may pressure Pakistan to reconsider its support for proxy groups. It also marks the evolving nature of militancy adapting to international legal and financial frameworks.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically discuss the role of international designations like Foreign Terrorist Organisation in combating global terrorism. Taking example of The Resistance Front, analyse their effectiveness and limitations.
- Examine the impact of the revocation of Article 370 on militancy and security dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir. How has this influenced regional geopolitics?
- Discuss in the light of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey-listing, how international financial regulations affect state behaviour towards terrorism financing and money laundering.
- With suitable examples, discuss the challenges of distinguishing between indigenous and proxy militant groups in conflict zones and its implications for counter-terrorism strategies.
