The Resistance Front (TRF), commonly known as a stand-in for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), was officially labeled a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially labeled Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the United States on July 18, 2025.
This comes after the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which claimed 26 lives and for which the TRF first took responsibility before later taking it back as tensions between India and Pakistan increased.
Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, emphasized that the action was a direct reaction to the fatal assault and supports President Donald Trump’s call for the victims to receive justice. India has achieved a major diplomatic victory with the designation, which demonstrates the breadth of US-India counterterrorism collaboration.
The Indian government applauded the ruling, emphasizing that it was consistent with its long-standing stance that TRF serves as a “front and proxy” for the already-banned LeT, which is notorious for planning violent attacks both domestically and internationally, such as the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
China’s response to the US decision was well-considered. Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, denounced the Pahalgam incident and reaffirmed China’s unwavering opposition to terrorism in all its manifestations. China did not, however, expressly endorse the US action or criticize Pakistan in answer to inquiries over the TRF designation.
Rather, China urged nations in the region to cooperate more in the fight against terrorism and to cooperate in order to protect regional security and stability. This cautious strategy upholds China’s long-standing trend in regional diplomacy toward terrorism.
It is anticipated that TRF’s classification will have an impact on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), especially on the 1267 Sanctions Committee, which is essential to international efforts to punish terrorist organizations. As a branch of LeT, TRF may be subject to additional international action, including travel restrictions, asset freezes, and arms embargoes—actions already taken against LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), and influential individuals like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar.
However, recent history demonstrates that China has repeatedly objected to and blocked procedures for TRF and other Pakistan-based terror organizations’ designation at the UN, frequently at Pakistan’s request. This has complicated international counterterrorism efforts and thwarted India’s efforts to have these groups recognized as global terror threats on a larger scale.
The United Nations Security Council strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack on April 25. However, the final statement did not specifically mention TRF or LeT, allegedly because of concerns from China and Pakistan.
An escalating phase was signaled by India’s following May 7 commencement of Operation Sindoor, which targeted militant infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Following intense drone and missile exchanges that resulted in a ceasefire accord on May 10th, mediated by swift diplomatic action between India and Pakistan, the situation deescalated.
A changing dynamic in international counterterrorism policy toward South Asia is highlighted by the US designation of TRF. Even though India has praised the action and it is expected to have an impact on future international discussions, especially at the UN, geopolitical considerations and the ongoing caution of major regional powers like China indicate that a comprehensive, coordinated response to terrorism in the region is still a difficult prospect.
