The United States' recent decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a global terrorist organization has been welcomed by Rajesh Narwal, the father of Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, a Navy officer who tragically lost his life in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. The TRF had claimed responsibility for the attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.

Rajesh Narwal expressed his hope that Munir, presumably a reference to someone connected to the tragedy or to terrorism in general, would eventually understand the pain that he and other victims' families have endured. He emphasized the need for stricter international action against terror groups like TRF, highlighting that the outfit is a proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a dangerous Pakistan-based terrorist organization.

According to Rajesh Narwal, TRF emerged shortly after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. He believes it was created to disguise LeT's operations and mislead the public to gain broader appeal. He stated that TRF is simply a new name, a mask, for Lashkar-e-Taiba, with the same goals of targeting security forces and civilians.

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has officially designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). Rubio acknowledged that TRF claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. The US State Department's action reflects President Donald Trump's commitment to combating terrorism and securing justice for the victims of the Pahalgam attack.

The US government highlighted that this designation reaffirms its dedication to global counterterrorism efforts. By designating TRF under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, the United States has committed to securing justice for the victims of the Pahalgam attack.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has welcomed the United States' decision, calling it a strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation. The MEA stated that TRF, as a proxy of LeT, has been involved in numerous terror-related activities, including the Pahalgam attack.

The Pahalgam terror attack involved militants targeting a popular tourist destination in Kashmir. Survivors recounted that the armed militants targeted Hindu civilians, separating women and children before forcing male victims to recite the Muslim declaration of faith. Most of the 26 victims were Hindus.

In response to the Pahalgam killings, India launched Operation Sindoor, conducting targeted strikes on terror networks across the Line of Control and into Pakistani territory. While Pakistan condemned the violence, it denied any connection to the attack or to TRF's operations. The US designation puts additional pressure on Pakistan to crack down on terror proxies operating from its soil. It also enables US authorities to block TRF's assets and prohibit material support to the group.

TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces. The outfit is known to target civilians, including migrant workers and Kashmiri Pandits, in Jammu and Kashmir. In January 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs had banned The Resistance Front under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).