In a strong move against cross-border terrorism, the United States has officially declared The Resistance Front (TRF) as both a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group. This group was responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement, stressing America’s solidarity with India in fighting terrorism.
India welcomed the decision, calling it a vital development that strengthens the India-U.S. counterterror partnership. This designation follows the February 2025 joint statement between both nations and the Quad foreign ministers’ agreement to take tougher actions against terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), ISIS, and Al-Qaida.
TRF: A Rebranded Lashkar-e-Taiba Front
Security analysts believe TRF was created in response to India’s 2019 revocation of Article 370, which removed Jammu and Kashmir's special status. The group is thought to be a new face of LeT, operating under the control of Pakistan’s military and intelligence agency ISI.
Despite Pakistan’s claims that TRF is a local resistance group, experts say it receives support from LeT in the form of money, weapons, and training, with safe havens in Pakistan. The group's rebranding aims to avoid sanctions and scrutiny from bodies like the FATF, while presenting itself as a native Kashmiri outfit to gain international sympathy.
Terror Activities Across Jammu and Kashmir
India had already declared TRF a terrorist group under its Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in January 2023. TRF has carried out numerous attacks, targeting tourists, minorities, civilians, and security forces.
Some of the major attacks linked to TRF include:
Pahalgam attack (April 2025): 26 civilians killed.
Reasi bus attack (June 2024): 9 Hindu pilgrims dead.
Ganderbal attack (October 2024): 6 migrant workers killed.
Anantnag attack (September 2023): Army and police officers killed.
Bandipora killings (July 2020): BJP leader and family assassinated.
TRF’s top leadership includes Sheikh Sajjad Gul (current commander), Muhammad Abbas Sheikh (founder, killed in 2021), Basit Ahmed Dar (former operational head, killed in 2024), and Ahmed Khalid (active spokesperson). Sajjad Gul, born in Srinagar in 1974, is believed to operate from Pakistan, and is known to have played a role in the 2018 assassination of journalist Shujaat Bukhari.
Online Propaganda and Psychological Warfare
TRF runs an online propaganda network called KashmirFight, led by Sajjad Gul. Though it appears to be a news or human rights blog, it’s actually used for terrorist messaging, recruitment, and threats. The website, hosted in Iceland, is active on platforms like Mastodon, Chirpwire, BiP, and Telegram.
On Mastodon, since March 2024, KashmirFight has worked with another outlet called Jhelum Media House (JMH), which issued threats against tourists after the Reasi attack.
On Chirpwire, it maintains encrypted communications. On BiP, it shares propaganda and uses voice/video tools. On Telegram, it runs a channel with 627 subscribers, where it claims or denies attacks. After the Pahalgam killings, TRF initially denied involvement and blamed Indian intelligence for staging a false flag operation. It cited a so-called “Operation TRINETRA”, claiming it was designed to frame TRF ahead of U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance’s April visit. Later, the group claimed to have hacked Indian intelligence networks and threatened to leak classified documents, though these claims remain unverified.
Advanced Weaponry and Chilling Tactics
The Pahalgam attack was carried out by TRF’s special "Falcon Squad", using advanced weapons, military-style gear, and head-mounted cameras. Reports say the attackers checked religious symbols and forced victims to recite Islamic prayers. Indian agencies have identified Hashim Musa, a former Pakistani Army commando, as the lead attacker, supported by Pakistani national Ali Bhai and two Kashmiri operatives. The entire operation was coordinated by LeT commander Saifullah Kasuri from across the border.
Another major strike by TRF was the Z-Morh tunnel attack in October 2024, where heavily armed terrorists stormed a construction site and fired at workers. CCTV confirmed they used M4 rifles, and intelligence reports said they had surveyed the site in advance. TRF justified the attack as a strategy to stop Indian infrastructure expansion in Kashmir.
