External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has responded to the US officially declaring The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group. Jaishankar called the move a “strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation”.
The EAM thanked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the US Department of State for officially recognising TRF, a group linked to Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), as a terror group. He noted that TRF had claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack and stressed India’s firm stand of zero tolerance towards terrorism.
Soon after the Pahalgam attack, India had retaliated with Operation Sindoor. The operation targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that were believed to be linked to the attack.
Later in May, the government sent several multi-party teams to 33 major cities around the world, including Washington, D.C. These teams were made up of leaders from different political parties. Their goal was to inform the international community about Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism and to seek global support for India’s position.
EAM Jaishankar had recently called for a united and firm stand against terrorism while speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tianjin, China.
Ministry of External Affairs welcomes US decision
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has welcomed the US government’s decision in an official statement where it has appreciated the leadership of Rubio for taking this step. The statement noted that the TRF has been involved in several terrorist activities, including the deadly attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, and clarified that the group claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed 26 civilians.
The ministry said the US move is “a timely and important step” and reflects the strong cooperation between India and the US in fighting terrorism. India also said it has always called for global efforts to dismantle terror networks and hold such groups accountable.
Reaffirming its stand, the government stated it remains fully committed to “a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism” and will continue working with other countries to bring terrorist groups and their supporters to justice.