In a significant development, a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions team has, for the first time, named The Resistance Front (TRF) in its report. This marks a notable shift and a potential diplomatic victory for India, which has long maintained that TRF is a proxy for Pakistan-based terror groups.
The 'Monitoring Team' of the UNSC committee, which oversees sanctions related to Al Qaeda, Islamic State, and associated organizations, specifically mentioned TRF in connection with the deadly Pahalgam attack that occurred in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. The report noted that TRF had claimed responsibility for the attack, in which 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed. The group also published a photograph of the attack site. While TRF repeated the claim of responsibility the following day, it retracted it on April 26.
The UNSC report also highlighted the links between TRF and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a terror group based in Pakistan. According to the report, the Pahalgam attack could not have happened without the support of LeT. This assertion bolsters India's long-standing claim that TRF is merely a front for LeT, used to obscure Pakistan's involvement in sponsoring terrorism in the region. By using names that appear secular and indigenous, like "The Resistance Front," Pakistan aims to divert attention from LeT and other groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and present their terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir as a local movement.
This explicit mention of TRF in a UNSC document is particularly noteworthy because Pakistan had previously attempted to block any reference to the group in statements issued by the council. Following the Pahalgam attack, when the UNSC issued a press statement, Pakistan, a non-permanent member at the time, worked to remove any mention of TRF.
India has been actively working to expose the links between TRF and Pakistan-based terror groups. In December 2023, India informed the Monitoring Team of the 1267 sanctions panel about LeT and JeM operating through smaller groups like TRF. In May and November 2024, India provided further information about TRF's role and its connections to LeT in reports to the monitoring team. Following the Pahalgam attack, an Indian team briefed the Monitoring Team and other countries on TRF's activities, presenting a detailed dossier on the group. These efforts also included meetings with representatives from the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) to push for TRF's designation as a global terrorist group.
The United States has already designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). This designation reflects the U.S.'s commitment to countering terrorism and protecting national security.
The UNSC report acknowledged that regional relations remain fragile and that terrorist groups could exploit tensions between India and Pakistan. It also mentioned that one member state rejected the view that LeT was involved, claiming the group was "defunct".
Despite these challenges, the inclusion of TRF in the UNSC report is a significant step forward in recognizing the threat posed by the group and its links to Pakistan-backed terrorism. It is seen as a diplomatic win for India and is expected to strengthen its efforts to counter cross-border terrorism.
