The US designation of TRF signals growing India–US counter-terror ties, but lasting impact hinges on action against Pakistan’s deep state and proxies.
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On 18 July 2025, the United States (US) State Department designated the Resistance Front (TRF) as a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organisation’ (FTO) and a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ (SDGT) as per Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, respectively. TRF—a proxy terror organisation supported by the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)— was responsible for the brutal Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. The attack claimed the lives of 26 tourists who were targeted for their religion, including a Kashmiri Muslim who tried to save them. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said this recent decision highlights the Trump administration’s dedication to counter-terrorism and justice for the Pahalgam attack victims, which is regarded as the deadliest attack on Indian civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks by LeT.
New Delhi welcomed the US decision as a timely effort against global terrorism and viewed it as a “strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation”. Designating entities under the FTO and SDGT is seen as an effective way to limit financial support, deter donations, and raise public awareness. It also alerts nations to US concerns, serving as a form of pressure to abandon terrorism, and warns US citizens and entities not to provide any support to designated organisations.
Designating entities under the FTO and SDGT is seen as an effective way to limit financial support, deter donations, and raise public awareness.
The designation marks a diplomatic victory for India’s firm stance against terrorism. This will now result in new obstacles for TRF in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)—especially in acquiring weapons— since it can no longer use international banking or financial systems to transfer funds. This move will also prompt other countries to scrutinise their funding channels due to the risk of secondary sanctions and boost TRF-related intelligence sharing between India and the US. However, TRF—much like the People Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) and Kashmir Tigers—remains directly controlled by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Pakistani deep state, which supports the group through training, logistics, and financial aid to carry out terror operations in J&K.
In the aftermath of the 2019 abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A by the Modi government, TRF was formed to both secularise terrorism in J&K and appear as an indigenous insurgent group. They launched their first terror strike in central Srinagar with a grenade attack on Hari Singh High Street, injuring eight civilians. Soon after the attack, TRF claimed its responsibility and stated on its Telegram channel that “the inception of indigenous resistance of Kashmir to flush out the occupational Indian regime … future such attacks will follow."
The TRF is primarily managed by LeT operatives Saifullah Kasuri, Sajjad Gul, and Salim Rehmani, changing their tactics from suicide attacks to target killings of locals and non-locals, and ambushes. Similar proxy and shadow terror groups connected to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)—such as the PAFF and Kashmir Tigers—emerged in the mid-2020s with anti-India propaganda videos to gain acceptance among the vulnerable masses of J&K. PAFF primarily operated south of the Pir Panjal, in the Rajouri-Poonch areas and Jammu province, while TRF remains active in the Kashmir Valley.
Pakistan was listed on the FATF grey list from 2008 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2015 for failure to implement adequate measures to curb terror financing and money laundering.
Scrutiny under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) from 2018 to 2022 compelled the Pakistani ISI and the deep state to facilitate the emergence of new terrorist organisations, such as TRF, PAFF, and Kashmir Tigers, as offshoots of parent organisations such as LeT and JeM. Pakistan was listed on the FATF grey list from 2008 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2015 for failure to implement adequate measures to curb terror financing and money laundering. During 2018–2022, Islamabad was instructed to sever its ties with globally designated terrorist organisations and terrorists affiliated with JeM and LeT. Despite completing 32 out of 34 action plans in 2021, Pakistan remained on the grey list and failed to secure a removal. It was ultimately removed only after fulfilling all remaining action items through the enactment of laws addressing money laundering, terror financing, and establishing a database of terrorist groups and individuals.
Since then, under increased international pressure, Pakistan has attempted to secularise state-sponsored terrorism and promote its indigenous roots by changing the nomenclature of LeT and JeM. With traditional terror funding sources drying up after its FATF grey listing and the national economy strained by high inflation, low foreign exchange reserves, and a mounting debt burden, the Pakistani deep state turned to narcotics to finance terror activities in J&K.
With little to no assistance from the local population—evident as only seven locals joined terrorism in 2024 and just one in the first half of 2025—the majority of active terrorists in groups such as TRF and PAFF are of Pakistani origin. Security agencies estimate there are about 125 to 130 terrorists in J&K, with 115 to 120 being Pakistani nationals. The Pakistani military not only trains these terrorists but also equips them with advanced weaponry, such as M4 carbines, night vision goggles, Iridium satellite phones, and Wi-Fi-enabled thermal imaging devices. The terrorists also use highly encrypted Chinese telecom equipment—primarily employed by Pakistani army troops—and secure messaging platforms. Chinese companies exclusively customise this specialised encrypted telecom equipment for the Pakistani army.
The terrorists also use highly encrypted Chinese telecom equipment—primarily employed by Pakistani army troops—and secure messaging platforms.
The Pakistani establishment has openly supported terrorists by providing platforms for their voices and praising individuals linked with the TRF. On 28 May 2025, Pakistan’s Minister of State for National Food Security & Research, Malik Rasheed Ahmed Khan, and the Speaker of the Punjab Provincial Assembly, Muhammad Ahmed Khan, were seen alongside LeT operatives Saifullah Kasuri, Amir Hamza, and Talha Saeed, the son of LeT’s head Hafiz Saeed. The state ministers glorified terrorism through their inflammatory speeches against India. They even promised government jobs to the terrorists who were killed during ‘ Operation Sindoor’—India’s offensive against terror hubs inside Pakistan, to avenge the Pahalgam attack. Following the Pahalgam attack, its mastermind, Saifullah Kasuri, boasted that he is now recognised globally.
State-sponsored terrorism targeting India is internationally recognised, with Islamabad and its military establishment collaborating closely with TRF and PAFF to undermine the peaceful environment in J&K. TRF’s designation as an FTO by the US State Department is a commendable development, encouraging greater India-US counter-terrorism collaboration. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether the Pakistani deep state and its military establishment will encounter secondary sanctions from the US and other allied nations for supporting terrorism as a state policy against India.
Ayjaz Wani (PhD) is a Fellow in the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation
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Ayjaz Wani (Phd) is a Fellow in the Strategic Studies Programme at ORF. Based out of Mumbai, he tracks China’s relations with Central Asia, Pakistan and ...
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