Jaishankar Welcomes US Terror Tag for TRF, Hails Strong India-US Counter-Terror Ties

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday welcomed the United States’ decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), calling it a strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation.

The designation comes in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists. TRF had claimed responsibility for the assault and is widely considered a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—a Pakistan-based terror group already banned by the UN.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said:

“A strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation. Appreciate Marco Rubio and the US State Department for designating TRF—a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba proxy—as an FTO and SDGT. It claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Zero tolerance for terrorism. #OpSindoor.”

US Emphasizes Global Security and Justice

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the designation of TRF reinforces the Trump administration’s commitment to safeguarding global security and pursuing justice for the victims of the Pahalgam massacre.

“The terrorist designation demonstrates our commitment to protecting national security, countering terrorism, and enforcing justice for the Pahalgam attack,” Rubio noted.

The US State Department, in its official statement, said:

“TRF, a Lashkar-e-Taiba front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by LeT.”

India’s Diplomatic and Military Response

Following the deadly Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian military reported neutralizing over 100 terrorists in the precision strikes.

In retaliation, Pakistan launched missile and drone attacks into Indian territory, which were repelled, leading to Islamabad requesting a ceasefire on May 10.

Simultaneously, India intensified its global diplomatic outreach. Seven multi-party delegations were dispatched to 33 world capitals, including Washington DC, to expose Pakistan’s alleged backing of terror outfits and garner international support for counter-terrorism efforts in South Asia.

Indian Embassy Reacts

The Indian embassy in Washington hailed the US action as a “clear and timely step” in strengthening global counter-terror efforts:

“TRF is a proxy of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and claimed responsibility for the April 22 terror attack on civilians in Pahalgam. ZERO TOLERANCE for terrorism!”

The US designation is seen in New Delhi as a significant diplomatic win, bolstering its case against state-sponsored terrorism and further solidifying strategic counter-terrorism ties between India and the United States.