The United States has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The announcement, made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, comes in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.

TRF, an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the deadly attack. The US State Department described it as the deadliest terror strike on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were also carried out by LeT. The group has also been linked to multiple attacks targeting Indian security forces.

Secretary Rubio stated that the designation underscores the commitment of the Trump administration to protecting national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing the call for justice for the Pahalgam attack. He described TRF as a "front and proxy" of LeT, a group already designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations and the United States.

The designation of TRF as a terrorist organization allows the US to impose strict financial and travel sanctions on the group and its members. It also strengthens cooperation with global partners in counterterrorism efforts. Furthermore, TRF and its associated aliases have been added to LeT's designation as both a FTO and SDGT, under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224 respectively. The amendments to these designations will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register.

The Pahalgam attack involved gunmen killing 26 people, mostly Hindus, in a tourist hub in Indian-administered Kashmir. Initial reports indicated that the TRF took responsibility for the attack, though they later denied it. The incident sparked widespread condemnation and heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.

India has long maintained that TRF is simply a smokescreen and an offshoot of LeT, created to mask the latter's involvement in terrorist activities and to obfuscate its Pakistan-based support. Pakistan, while condemning the violence, has denied any connection to the attack or to TRF's operations.

The US designation of TRF is expected to increase pressure on Pakistan to crack down on terror proxies operating within its borders. It also empowers US authorities to block TRF's assets and prohibit any material support to the group. This move is a significant diplomatic step, signaling closer security ties between the US and India amidst shared concerns regarding regional terrorism and cross-border militancy.

The designation of TRF as a terrorist organization by the United States is a major victory for India's counter-terrorism efforts. It not only recognizes the threat posed by the group but also strengthens the legal and financial tools available to combat its activities.