In a key diplomatic move, the United States has formally designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a front of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). This comes after the outfit took responsibility for the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians, the highest toll since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
In response to the designation, Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor welcomed the action by the US as “long overdue” and provided a glimpse into the diplomatic discussions that culminated in the decision. Going live on social media platform X, Tharoor informed that during a series of closed-door sessions with American officials earlier this year, he had posed difficult questions over America’s persistence in allowing Pakistan’s status as a haven for terror outfits.
Diplomatic Bluntness in Washington
“In my private conversations in Washington, when I asked people bluntly why the US were still allowing Pakistan to get away with providing a safe haven to terrorist organisations, I was pointed to Pakistan’s alleged cooperation with the US on counter-terror operations, notably the recent surrender of the individual allegedly responsible for the Abbey Gate bombing that had killed 23 US marines at Kabul airport,” Tharoor wrote.
Tharoor alluded to the 2021 ISIS-conducted suicide bombing at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, where the suspect was said to have been handed over by the Taliban earlier this year. He highlighted India’s doubts regarding Pakistan’s commitment towards fighting terrorism, particularly against Indian targets.
Bridging India-US Counter-Terror Gaps
“Our scepticism about the quality & sincerity of Pakistani actions against terrorism reflects our own experience with those terror agencies that are directed against us, rather than those that the US deems hostile, such as ISIS-Khorasan. This is a step towards bridging the gap in perceptions between the US and us on this. It will help in our efforts to list TRF at the @UN as well,” Tharoor further added.
2/3 In my private conversations in Washington, when I asked people bluntly why the US were still allowing Pakistan to get away with providing a safe haven to terrorist organisations, I was pointed to Pakistan’s alleged cooperation with the US on counter-terror operations, notably…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 19, 2025
The Ministry of External Affairs also issued an official statement, referring to the US action as “a timely and important step reflecting the deep cooperation between India and the United States on counter-terrorism.”
India’s Zero Tolerance Policy Strengthened
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reflected this view in an X post, thanking US authorities and underscoring the robust bilateral cooperation. “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 April 22 Pahalgam attack. Zero tolerance for terrorism. #OpSindoor.”
India reaffirmed its determination to seek accountability against cross-border terror networks and their surrogates, emphasizing the necessity of worldwide coordination against terrorism.
