Why in NEWS

India welcomed the US decision to list The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), marking a major diplomatic win after the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor 2025.

Key Terms/Concepts

Term	Description
TRF (The Resistance Front)	Proxy group of LeT, formed post Article 370 abrogation, active in J&K
FTO (Foreign Terrorist Org)	US designation for groups involved in international terrorism
SDGT (Specially Designated Global Terrorist)	US label on entities threatening global peace
UAPA Act, 1967	India’s anti-terror law to ban organizations and individuals involved in terrorism

What the News Says

Key Points	Details
US Action	TRF designated FTO and SDGT under US laws
India’s Diplomatic Push	After Pahalgam attack, India lobbied for global action, especially after limited UN response
Operation Sindoor 2025	Counter-terror response in J&K, followed by UN engagement
India’s Domestic Action	TRF already banned under UAPA since 2023

What is TRF?

Feature	Details
Founded	2019, post abrogation of Article 370
Affiliation	Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy
Purpose	Rebrand terrorism in Kashmir as “indigenous” to dodge FATF scrutiny
Tactics	Online recruitment, avoids suicide attacks
Activities	Arms smuggling, infiltration, narcotics trade, radical propaganda

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) – The Parent Group

Aspect	Details
Founded	1990s, military wing of Markaz-ud-Dawa-wal-Irshad
Major Attacks	2008 Mumbai attacks, 2006 train blasts, 2010 German Bakery blast
Charity Fronts	Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FiF)
Tactics	Mix of armed militancy and charity to mask intentions

Legal Frameworks in India

Law / Agency	Key Provisions
UAPA Act, 1967	Bans 45 terrorist organizations and 23 unlawful associations
UAPA Amendment (2019)	Allows individuals to be designated as terrorists
NIA Act, 2008	Creates central agency for terror investigations

Other India-Centric Terror Groups in Pakistan

Name	Description	UAPA Status
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM)	Behind 2001 Parliament attack	Banned
Harakat-ul Jihad Islami	Initially anti-Soviet, now Kashmir-focused	Banned
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen	Based in PoK, targets Indian security forces	Banned
Hizb-ul Mujahideen	Militant wing of Pakistan’s Islamist political groups	Banned
Al Qaeda	Global terror network with active presence in Af-Pak region	Banned

In a Nutshell

Mnemonic: TRIGGER

TRF gets global terrorist tag
Reactions from India positive
Indigenous façade exposed
Global consensus lacking at UN
Growing digital radicalisation
Enabled by LeT’s infrastructure
Regional and global watch needed

Prelims Questions

1. Which of the following groups is considered the parent organization of The Resistance Front (TRF)?
   a) Jaish-e-Mohammed
   b) Hizb-ul Mujahideen
   c) Lashkar-e-Taiba
   d) Al Qaeda
2. Under which Act can individuals be designated as terrorists in India?
   a) National Security Act
   b) Indian Penal Code
   c) UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act)
   d) Armed Forces Special Powers Act
3. What was the main reason for creating TRF after 2019?
   a) To carry out international terror strikes
   b) To bypass scrutiny by FATF by giving terror acts a local face
   c) To form a new political party in J&K
   d) To counter infiltration from China

Mains Questions

1. (GS3 – Internal Security)
   Discuss the strategic significance of the US designation of The Resistance Front (TRF) as a global terrorist group. How does it impact India’s counterterror diplomacy? 10 Marks
2. (GS2 – International Relations)
   Evaluate India’s use of multilateral platforms like the UN in countering Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. What reforms are needed in global counterterror frameworks? 10 Marks

Prelims Answer Key

Q.No	Answer	Explanation
1	c	TRF is a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba
2	c	UAPA 1967 was amended in 2019 to allow designation of individuals
3	b	TRF was created to avoid FATF scrutiny by disguising as a local movement