In the latest development on the Indo-Pak silent tensions, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has rejected the notion that The Resistance Front (TRF) is affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based terrorist group responsible for the disastrous 2008 Mumbai attacks (26/11). His remarks come shortly after the United States designated the TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), following its claim of responsibility for the heinous April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking at an event in Washington, D.C., Dar said, “While the US has every right as a sovereign nation to designate any group as a terrorist organization, linking TRF to Lashkar-e-Taiba is factually inaccurate.” He added, “Pakistan dismantled Lashkar-e-Taiba years ago. Its operatives were apprehended, prosecuted, and incarcerated. That chapter is closed.”
Dar further emphasized that Pakistan gladly welcomes any verifiable evidence regarding TRF’s involvement in cross-border terror incidents. “If the US has concrete proof, we are open to reviewing it. But as of now, our security assessments do not support a Lashkar-TRF connection,” he stated. Dar also revealed that Pakistan actively opposed the inclusion of TRF’s name in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) statement condemning the April 22 attack in J&K. He told Pakistan’s Parliament earlier this year that Islamabad had successfully lobbied for the removal of any reference to TRF in the final version of the resolution.
“I received calls from various global capitals requesting Pakistan’s cooperation. But we stood firm. We did not and will not accept TRF’s mention without compelling evidence,” Dar declared. He went on to say that Pakistan prevailed diplomatically, ensuring the group’s name was removed from the UNSC statement.
India’s Stand: TRF is a Proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba
India, however, maintains a starkly different position. According to Indian security and intelligence agencies, TRF is a rebranded off-shoot of the terrorist organization, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), formed to avoid international scrutiny and continue militant operations under a different banner. India officially declared TRF as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in January 2023.
Indian officials argue that TRF emerged in 2019, largely through social media propaganda, and has since claimed responsibility for several terror incidents across Jammu and Kashmir. Some of these include a grenade attack in Srinagar that injured seven civilians, a series of targeted killings in 2021 aimed at minorities and off-duty security personnel and the most infamous, the recent Pahalgam Valley terror attack in April 2025.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar’s statements reflect Islamabad’s continued reluctance to publicly acknowledge the proxy groups allegedly operating from its soil, a position that often places Pakistan at odds with Western governments and its regional neighbors.
While Pakistan insists on evidence-based diplomacy, India, the US, and several European nations argue that rebranding tactics by terrorist organizations must not be allowed to shield them from accountability. The broader implications could affect Pakistan’s standing in global financial and security forums, such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which continues to monitor the country’s counter-terror financing measures.
Be First to Comment