Why in News?
The United States designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist after it claimed responsibility for the April 2025 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians in Kashmir.
Description:
About The Resistance Front (TRF):
- Formed: After abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019; publicly announced via Telegram on October 12, 2019.
- Nature: Proxy and rebranded front of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based terror group.
- Leadership:
- Founder: Muhammad Abbas Sheikh (killed in 2021)
- Current Chief: Sheikh Sajjad Gul
- Spokesperson: Ahmad Khalid
Modus Operandi & Activities:
- Claims to be secular and indigenous, avoiding overt Islamic branding.
- Involved in several high-profile attacks, including:
- April 2025 Pahalgam attack
- October 2024 Ganderbal killings
- June 2024 Reasi bus attack
- 2020 Srinagar Lal Chowk attack
- Active Areas: Srinagar, South Kashmir, and other districts of Jammu & Kashmir.
Digital Warfare & Propaganda:
- Operates KashmirFight (propaganda blog) and Jhelum Media House (JMH) for:
- Recruitment
- Disseminating separatist narratives
- Claiming responsibility for attacks
- Psychological warfare
India’s Actions Against TRF:
- Banned under UAPA (1967) in January 2023.
- India raised TRF’s activities in the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee in May & Nov 2024.
- It highlights its role as a front for LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
Implications of U.S. Designation:
- Designation under Section 219 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Illegal for any U.S. person or entity to provide support to TRF.
- U.S. financial institutions must block all transactions/assets linked to TRF.
- May trigger secondary sanctions on third parties aiding the group.
- Aims to isolate and financially weaken the terror group globally.
UN’s Role:
- TRF is under scrutiny by the UN 1267 ISIL & Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, which can:
- Impose travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes on listed individuals/entities.
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