'We don't consider TRF illegal': Pakistan openly backs outfit that US designated as terrorist

During a fiery speech in the Pakistani Parliament, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar openly defended The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist group tied to the deadly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir and known as a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

This came a day after the United States designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation on Friday (July 18), triggering concerns in Islamabad.

Dar revealed that Pakistan, leveraging its position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, successfully blocked any mention of TRF in the UNSC’s condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians.

Pak Deputy PM Ishaq Dar rejected TRF involvement in the Pahalgam attack and said :

'Alhamdulillah we are the non permanent member of UNSC.....we don't consider TRF as illegal...show the evidence that TRF has carried out the Pahalgam attack or show the ownership of TRF... We… pic.twitter.com/qLwDAC4zVy

— OsintTV 📺 (@OsintTV) July 18, 2025

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“We opposed the mention of TRF in the UNSC statement. I got calls from global capitals, but Pakistan will not accept,” Dar declared.

“TRF was deleted, and Pakistan prevailed.”

He went further, challenging the accusations against TRF.

“We don’t consider TRF illegal. Show us proof they carried out the Pahalgam attack. Show ownership by TRF. We won’t accept the allegation, and TRF had to be deleted from the UN press release,” Dar insisted, despite TRF publicly claiming responsibility for the attack and intelligence from both the US and India linking the group to LeT’s infrastructure.

US labels TRF as a terror outfit

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in announcing TRF’s designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), outlined the group’s actions and the financial sanctions that would restrict its support networks.

“TRF, a Lashkar-e-Taiba front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians,” the State Department said.

“TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024.”

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Rubio described the Pahalgam attack as “the deadliest assault on civilians in India since 2008” and emphasised that “these actions demonstrate the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests and seeking justice for victims of terrorism.”

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar praised the US decision, calling it a “strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation.” In a post on X, he wrote, “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. Zero tolerance for terrorism.”

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