U.S. designates Pakistani group’s offshoot as ‘terrorist’ over Pahalgam assault

The U.S. authorities designated The Resistance Front, thought of an offshoot of the Pakistani extremist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a “international terrorist group” over the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people, Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned in an announcement on Thursday (July 17, 2025). The Resistance Entrance initially took accountability for the assault in Pahalgam earlier than denying it days later.

Lashkar-e-Taiba, listed as a “international terrorist group” by the USA, is a terror group accused of plotting assaults in India and within the West, together with the three-day lethal assault on Mumbai in November 2008. TRF’s designation by Washington as a “international terrorist group” and “specifically designated world terrorist” enforced President Donald Trump’s “name for justice for the Pahalgam assault,” Mr. Rubio mentioned.

Mr. Rubio known as TRF a “entrance and proxy” for Lashkar-e-Taiba. It’s thought of an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, based on the South Asia Terrorism Portal, a Delhi-based suppose tank. TRF emerged in 2019.

The assault sparked heavy combating between nuclear-armed Asian neighbours India and Pakistan within the newest escalation of a decades-old rivalry. Islamabad denied accountability whereas calling for a impartial investigation. Washington condemned the assault however didn’t immediately blame Pakistan.

On Could 7, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, setting off an alternate of assaults between the 2 nations by fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery till a ceasefire on Could 10.