UN Names TRF in Pahalgam Terror Attack: Pakistan’s Cover-Up Falls Apart
- MGMMTeam
- 3 days ago
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On April 22, 2025, India witnessed one of the most horrific terror attacks in recent memory when armed militants opened fire on Hindu pilgrims at the scenic Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, which left 26 civilians dead and dozens wounded, sent shockwaves across the country and drew widespread international condemnation. Though no group initially took responsibility, suspicions pointed toward The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadowy outfit with deep-rooted links to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Now, a United Nations report has shattered any remaining ambiguity.
United Nations Officially Names TRF as Perpetrator
In a major breakthrough, the 33rd report of the UN Security Council's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has officially identified TRF as the group responsible for the Pahalgam massacre. According to the report, TRF had initially claimed responsibility for the attack—twice—even releasing a photo of the site, before hastily retracting the statements. This attempt at retraction appears to have been part of a larger plan to allow Pakistan to deny involvement, a tactic that has been repeatedly used in similar incidents in the past.
The UN report not only mentions TRF's direct involvement but also highlights its operational ties to Lashkar-e-Taiba. It clarifies that TRF, along with the People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), serves as a rebranded offshoot of LeT. These groups were specifically created to project Kashmir’s militancy as an indigenous uprising while concealing Pakistan’s direct role in fomenting terror.
TRF and Lashkar-e-Taiba: Two Faces of the Same Monster
The creation of TRF after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 was a calculated move to give Pakistani-sponsored terrorism a local face. The UN report confirms that TRF is not a standalone entity but a “proxy outfit” of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Member states, including India and the United States, presented evidence that the attack could not have taken place without logistical and operational support from LeT. The resistance from one member state—widely believed to be Pakistan—that LeT was "defunct" has been effectively dismissed.
The UN further noted that TRF and PAFF are used by LeT to continue attacks in Jammu and Kashmir while maintaining plausible deniability. These organizations manipulate encrypted platforms, social media, and online propaganda to recruit Kashmiri youth and coordinate terror operations, making them dangerous extensions of global jihadist networks.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Hypocrisy Unmasked
What makes this development more damning is Pakistan’s role in trying to suppress TRF’s name from being mentioned in international forums. Shortly after the Pahalgam attack, when the UN Security Council met to issue a joint statement condemning the incident, Pakistan reportedly blocked any reference to TRF’s involvement. Pakistan later celebrated this omission as a diplomatic success, trying to portray the attack as an undefined act of violence.
However, the recent UN report has completely overturned that narrative. With TRF now officially named, Pakistan's consistent denial of its role in cross-border terrorism has suffered a severe blow. The diplomatic victory it claimed was short-lived and has now turned into an embarrassing setback.
India's Retaliation and Diplomatic Maneuvering
India, from the very beginning, was firm in its stance. Security forces launched Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam attack, targeting militant hideouts along the Line of Control (LoC) and across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The offensive was seen as a direct message to terror groups and their sponsors.
On the diplomatic front, India provided extensive dossiers to the UN and member states, detailing TRF’s hierarchy, funding channels, and attack plans. This information was instrumental in influencing the conclusions of the UN Security Council Monitoring Team.
India’s external affairs ministry and intelligence agencies also pushed for international action against TRF leadership, especially Sheikh Sajjad Gul, believed to be the current chief of the outfit. He is said to operate from Pakistan under the protection of LeT. His predecessor, Basit Ahmed Dar, was killed in an encounter in May 2024, and was known to have masterminded several attacks under the TRF banner.
Global Recognition: US Designates TRF a Terror Group
In another significant development, the United States officially designated The Resistance Front as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in July 2025. This move underscores growing international acknowledgment of TRF’s role in perpetuating violence in Kashmir under the sponsorship of Pakistani intelligence.
The US action is expected to accelerate calls for the UN to formally sanction TRF under its 1267 Al-Qaeda/ISIL Sanctions Committee. However, past attempts at similar designations have been blocked by China, which has often shielded Pakistan from global pressure on terrorism-related issues.
Conclusion: Time for Global Accountability
The UN’s decision to name TRF in its official sanctions monitoring report is more than a diplomatic win for India—it is a damning indictment of Pakistan’s long-standing strategy of waging proxy wars under the garb of resistance. The carefully curated narrative of “local freedom fighters” now lies in tatters, exposed by facts and endorsed by global institutions.
As India continues to push for TRF’s inclusion in the official UN terror list, the world must recognize the broader implications. Pakistan's use of rebranded terror outfits to evade responsibility cannot be ignored any longer. With TRF's true identity now out in the open, it is time for the international community to hold both the perpetrators and their state sponsors to account—for peace in Kashmir and stability across South Asia.
(Sources: NDTV, Hindustan Times, Economic Times)
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