• The United States has designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) that was behind the Pahalgam attack, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).

• The TRF has been involved in numerous terror-related activities, including the heinous attack on civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on April 22 for which it twice claimed responsibility.

• India’s National Investigation Agency identified TRF head Sheikh Sajjad Gul as the mastermind of the attack.

• The Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this action demonstrates the US’ commitment to enforcing President Donald Trump’s call for justice for the Pahalgam attack.

• Rubio said the Department of State is designating the TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

• TRF and other associated aliases have been added to LeT’s designation as a FTO and SDGT pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, respectively.

• In retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ early on May 7, targeting nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

• India has consistently emphasized the need for global cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the dismantling of terror infrastructure. 

• The designation of TRF is a timely and important step reflecting the deep cooperation between India and the US on counter-terrorism.

• Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs) are foreign organisations that are designated by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). FTO designations play a critical role in the fight against terrorism and are an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities and pressuring groups to get out of the terrorism business.

• Executive Order 13224 gives the US government a powerful tool to impede terrorist funding and is part of the national commitment to lead the international effort to bring a halt to terrorist activities. The Order provides a means by which to disrupt the financial support network for terrorists and terrorist organisations by authorising the US government to designate and block the assets of foreign individuals and entities that commit, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism.

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