Nearly three months after the dastardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, The Resistance Front (TRF) has been designated a terrorist organisation by the United States. The decision is being seen as a major diplomatic win for India. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar lauded the move, calling it a “strong affirmation of India–US counter-terrorism cooperation.” Earlier, Pakistan had managed to keep TRF’s name out of the United Nations Security Council’s press statement with the help of China.
So, what exactly is The Resistance Front?
The terror outfit, which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack twice, was banned by the Indian government under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2023. TRF first emerged after the Narendra Modi government abrogated Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Initially, it operated as an online forum but transformed into an active offline entity in less than 100 days.
Most of the terrorists in TRF have either been recruited by Lashkar-e-Taiba or have previously worked with the group. Before the Pahalgam attack, TRF had conspired and carried out several attacks across Jammu and Kashmir.
Sheikh Sajjad Gul, also known as Sheikh Sajjad, is the founder of TRF. He has claimed that the outfit was formed in response to “local oppression.” On various occasions, TRF has tried to mask its ties with Pakistan and the influence of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed.
Born on October 10, 1974, in Srinagar, Sheikh Sajjad was designated a terrorist by India in 2022. Investigations into the workings of TRF reveal that the group shares funding channels with Lashkar-e-Taiba.
According to data from 2022, of the 172 terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir that year, 108 were linked to TRF. Another report revealed that out of 100 newly recruited terrorists, 74 were from TRF.
The last major attack attributed to the group was the Ganderbal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Seven people were gunned down at a construction site in North Kashmir’s Ganderbal district in 2024.
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