‘Strong reaffirmation’: India hails US decision to brand TRF as terrorist outfit

India on Friday welcomed the United States’ decision to designate Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF), as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). It was the same terror outfit that claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people in Kashmir.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the TRF will now be designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group. Jaishankar took to Twitter, stating that the US President Donald Trump administration’s latest move reaffirms ties between India and the US.

“A strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation. Appreciate @SecRubio and @StateDept for designating TRF—a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) proxy—as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). It claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack,” Jaishankar wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Zero tolerance for Terrorism. # OpSindoor ,” he added.

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A strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation.

Appreciate @SecRubio and @StateDept for designating TRF—a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) proxy—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). It claimed responsibility for the…

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 18, 2025

MEA lauds the move

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs also released a statement on Friday, lauding the move by the US Department of State. “The Government of India welcomes the decision of the United States Department of State to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). We acknowledge and appreciate the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in this regard,” the MEA said in the statement.

The MEA noted that the proxy of Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has been involved in numerous terror-related activities, including the Pahalgam terror attack. “India has consistently emphasised 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 United States on counter-terrorism,” the ministry furthered.

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The ministry maintained that India remains committed to a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and is willing to work closely with international partners. In its statement, the US Department of State maintained that its actions demonstrate the Trump Administration’s commitment to “protecting our national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trump’s call for justice for the Pahalgam attack”.