Pakistan has officially questioned the United States’ decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a foreign terrorist organization, arguing that the investigation into the Pahalgam attack, which triggered the listing, remains “inconclusive.” The statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry came on Friday, just one day after the U.S. formally blacklisted the group.
The designation was announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who identified TRF as a front for the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). As a result of being classified as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), TRF is now subject to financial sanctions that cut off its access to support from any individual or entity under American jurisdiction.
This U.S. action came nearly three months after TRF claimed responsibility for the devastating April 22 attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The assault was the most lethal attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were also perpetrated by LeT.
In its official response, Pakistan’s foreign ministry asserted that it maintains a “zero tolerance” policy toward terrorism and emphasized its position as a “frontline state” in the fight against it.
“Pakistan condemns terrorism in all forms and manifestations; zero tolerance, and international cooperation against terrorism are cornerstone of our policy,” the ministry’s statement declared. It further highlighted the nation’s contributions to global security, noting its role in the “apprehension of Terrorist Sharifullah, the mastermind of Abbey Gate Bombing.”
However, addressing the Pahalgam attack directly, the ministry insisted that any connection to Lashkar-e-Taiba was “against ground realities” and reiterated that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing.