China Calls for Stronger Regional Anti-Terror Cooperation after US Labels TRF as Global Terror Outfit

By R Anil Kumar

• TRF, as an offshoot of LeT, could potentially face further international action, such as asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes—measures already imposed on LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), and key figures like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar

• The timing of the US move is particularly advantageous for India as it prepares for the upcoming FATF plenary in August 2025. FATF is the global watchdog for anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) protocols

Bengaluru/ Beijing. The United States formally designated The Resistance Front (TRF), widely recognized as a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on July 18, 2025.

This action follows the Pahalgam attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed, and for which TRF initially claimed responsibility before later retracting its statement as tensions rose between India and Pakistan.

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, underscored that the move was a direct response to the deadly attack and aligns with President Donald Trump’s demand for justice for the victims. The designation is a significant diplomatic win for India, reflecting the growing depth of US-India counter-terrorism cooperation.

The Indian government welcomed the decision, highlighting its alignment with India’s longstanding position that TRF operates as a “front and proxy” for the already-banned LeT, which is internationally known for orchestrating violent attacks both within India and abroad, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

China reacted to the US decision with a carefully calibrated stance. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned the Pahalgam attack and asserted China’s firm opposition to all forms of terrorism. However, in response to questions about the TRF designation, China refrained from direct criticism of Pakistan or explicit support for the US move.

Instead, China called on countries in the region to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation and to work collectively to safeguard regional security and stability. This guarded approach maintains China’s established pattern in regional terrorism-related diplomacy.

The designation of TRF is expected to reverberate within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), particularly in the 1267 Sanctions Committee, which is central to global efforts at sanctioning terrorist groups.

TRF, as an offshoot of LeT, could potentially face further international action, such as asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes—measures already imposed on LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), and key figures like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar.

However, recent history shows that efforts to designate TRF and other Pakistan-based terror entities at the UN have been stymied by repeated objections and procedural blocks from China, often at the behest of Pakistan—complicating international counter-terrorism efforts and frustrating India’s push for wider recognition of these groups as global terror threats.

Following the Pahalgam attack, the UNSC issued a strong condemnation on April 25, but, reportedly due to objections from Pakistan and China, any direct mention of TRF or LeT was omitted from the final statement.

India’s subsequent launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, marked an escalatory phase.

The crisis deescalated after intensive drone and missile exchanges led to a ceasefire agreement on May 10, brokered through rapid diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan.

The US designation of TRF underscores a shifting dynamic in international counter-terrorism policy towards South Asia. While the move has been lauded by India and is likely to influence further international deliberations, particularly at the UN, geopolitical factors and the continued reticence of key regional powers like China suggest that a comprehensive, united response to terrorism in the region remains a challenging prospect.

US Terror Tag f or TRF Boosts India’s FATF Case Against Pakistan After China’s UNSC Block

The United States’ recent decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough for India’s efforts against Pakistan-based terror outfits.

Coming in the wake of the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam attack—which killed 26 civilians and was initially claimed by the TRF—this move is expected to strengthen India’s international campaign to hold Pakistan accountable for cross-border terrorism, particularly ahead of decisive discussions at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

After the Pahalgam attack, India sought to have TRF named in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) statements, underscoring its links to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), an UN-designated terror group.

However, leveraging its position in the UNSC, China endorsed Pakistan’s effort to prevent the naming of TRF in official communiqués.

This manoeuvre allowed Pakistan to avoid increased international scrutiny, despite TRF’s acknowledged direct link to the attack and its documented role as a LeT proxy.

The US State Department’s formal terror designation for TRF stands in clear defiance of Pakistan’s lobbying and China’s protective stance in the UNSC. The move freezes TRF assets globally, restricts its access to funding, and exposes its members to international sanctions.

Importantly, it validates India’s longstanding claim that TRF is merely a front for the banned LeT and that Pakistan continues to facilitate or shelter such proxies.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar welcomed the US decision as both a “timely and important step” and a “strong affirmation” of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the administration’s resolve to pursue justice for the Pahalgam victims and underscored Washington’s commitment to confronting state-sponsored terror threats to regional and global security.

The timing of the US move is particularly advantageous for India as it prepares for the upcoming FATF plenary in August 2025. FATF is the global watchdog for anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) protocols.

India is expected to leverage the US designation—and the direct evidence linking TRF’s financing and operations to Pakistan—to advocate for Pakistan’s re-entry into the FATF “grey list” of jurisdictions under increased monitoring for terror financing risk.

Previously, Pakistan managed to exit the grey list by demonstrating partial compliance with FATF’s recommendations. However, the TRF’s documented activity, recent cross-border financing evidence, and continued links to Pakistan-based LeT leaders provide India with new material to question Islamabad’s commitment to international CTF frameworks.

Indian authorities are gathering further evidence to demonstrate ongoing non-compliance with specific FATF requirements—particularly the failure to freeze assets and prosecute leaders of UN-sanctioned groups like LeT and its proxies.

The US designation not only undermines Pakistan and China’s attempt to shield TRF at the UNSC but also bolsters India’s position in international fora.

By aligning with the US and securing a formal terror tag for TRF, India can now press the UNSC and FATF to take tangible action—ranging from asset freezes and travel bans to increased diplomatic and economic pressure on states that facilitate terror financing.

Moreover, the move reflects growing India-US operational synergy in counter-terrorism, reinforcing their shared commitment to zero tolerance for terrorism in South Asia and globally.

Going forward, India’s success in building a wider coalition for the isolation of Pakistan-based proxy groups could set a precedent for international action against state-sponsored and proxy terrorism, especially in regions marked by geopolitical rivalry and competing narratives.

The US terror tag for TRF not only exposes Pakistan’s use of proxy outfits but also materially strengthens India’s case at FATF while diminishing China’s ability to protect such groups on the global stage.

This development is poised to drive further international consensus on countering cross-border terrorism and enhancing mechanisms to ensure accountability for states abetting terror networks.

About The Resistance Front, Tagged by US As Terror Group

The Resistance Front (TRF) is a terrorist group that has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the United States following its responsibility for the deadly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 tourists.

The move underscores renewed US-India cooperation on counterterrorism in response to increasing cross-border terrorism in the region.

Origins and Structure

TRF emerged in October 2019, a few months after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, announcing its formation over encrypted social media platforms. While it positions itself as an “indigenous resistance group,” multiple intelligence assessments—including India’s Ministry of Home Affairs and the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP)—identify TRF as a shadow or proxy organisation for the banned, Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), one of South Asia’s most notorious UN-designated terror outfits.

TRF’s command structure draws heavily from LeT leadership, and its operational and logistical strategies exhibit similar sophistication. Sajjad Gul is identified as the commander of TRF.

Modus Operandi And Activities

TRF is distinguished by its prolific use of digital and encrypted communications for propaganda, recruitment, and coordination of attacks. It has sought local Kashmiri resonance by emphasising “indigenous resistance” and actively avoids overt Islamist imagery in its messaging, diverging from traditional LeT rhetoric to appeal to broader local grievances.

Besides direct terror attacks, TRF employs threats against civilians, targets Kashmiri Pandits, migrant workers, and security personnel, and employs modern tactics including drone-based weapon drops and the use of improvised explosive devices.

Continuity With LeT and Wider Network

The group is not only linked to LeT but also coordinates with other terrorist outfits in the region—such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen, and the People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF). It operates as part of the United Jihad Council, an “umbrella group” of Pakistan-backed terrorist organisations.

Major Attacks

April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack: 26 tourists killed, the deadliest terror incident against civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Attacks in Ganderbal (October 2024), Reasi (June 2024), and Srinagar (February 2020), targeting both civilians and security forces.

Following the Pahalgam massacre, the US took the unprecedented step of identifying TRF as a threat not only regionally but globally, binding severe legal and financial penalties to anyone aiding the group.

India had previously banned TRF under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in January 2023, and has consistently reported TRF’s activities to international bodies, characterising it as a deliberate front to shield LeT from international scrutiny, especially amid pressures from bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Pakistani Denial

Despite evidence—including the involvement of Pakistani nationals—Pakistan has publicly denied supporting or funding terrorists in Kashmir.

Summary

TRF exemplifies the evolution of terrorist proxies in South Asia: localising conflict narratives, masking foreign sponsorship, and leveraging technology for recruitment and operations, all while serving as a strategic front for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Its US designation as an international terror group signals a coordinated global clampdown on cross-border terrorism and the organisations that enable it.