World News: Pakistan on Friday rejected any connection between the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The country claimed that it had dismantled terrorist networks operating within its borders and said that linking the attack to LeT is “inconsistent with the facts.”
This response came shortly after the United States officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF)—considered a proxy of LeT—as a Global Terrorist Organization. TRF had earlier claimed responsibility for the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people.
Pakistan Responds: Networks Dismantled, Members Prosecuted
In an official statement, Pakistan's Foreign Office said that it has "effectively and comprehensively dismantled" all relevant terrorist networks. The statement further added that many of these organizations' leaders have been arrested and prosecuted, and their members "freed from radical ideologies."
It also emphasized that Lashkar-e-Taiba is banned in Pakistan and currently inactive. Since investigations into the Pahalgam attack are still ongoing, Pakistan stated that any assumption of an LeT connection is “premature and disconnected from ground realities.”
TRF Declared Global Terrorist Entity by US
The U.S. State Department, in a firm move, designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and its leader, Sheikh Sajjad Gul, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that this reflects America's commitment to ensuring accountability in the Pahalgam attack.
Rubio added that this action aligns with former President Donald Trump’s tough stance on terrorism and international justice.
India Welcomes US Action, Highlights Bilateral Cooperation
The Indian Embassy in Washington welcomed the U.S. decision and described it as a reflection of the strong India–US counterterrorism partnership. Officials noted that although TRF initially claimed responsibility, it later withdrew the statement as tensions between India and Pakistan escalated.
TRF Chief Named as Attack Mastermind
India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) identified Sheikh Sajjad Gul, head of TRF, as the mastermind behind the attack. According to intelligence sources, TRF functions under the direction of LeT while maintaining a separate identity to avoid international scrutiny.
