The minister, however, said it was not right to link TRF to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, claiming the outfit was dismantled by Pakistan years ago.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. (File Photo)
Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has supported the United States’ move to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a terrorist organization.
The TRF, which India believes is a front and proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
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Speaking at an event in Washington, Dar said, “It is obviously a sovereign decision of the United States to designate the TRF. We have no issue. And we welcome, if they have any evidence, that they are involved,” Dar said.
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His remarks were in stark contrast with the earlier stance of Pakistan. In April, Dar had stated that Pakistan blocked the mention of TRF in the UNSC’s condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack.
The minister, however, said it was not right to link TRF to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, claiming the outfit was dismantled by Pakistan years ago.
“Linking the TRF to the Lashkar-e-Taiba is wrong. That outfit was dismantled years ago by Pakistan. The actors were prosecuted, arrested and jailed, and the entire outfit was destroyed,” he added.
Earlier this month, the United States designated TRF as foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and specially designated global terrorist (SDGT).
In a statement issued by US Secretary Marco Rubio it was stated that the Department of State is adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
TRF and other associated aliases have been added to LeT’s designation as a FTO and SDGT pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, respectively.
According to sources, the TRF was founded in October 2019 post post-abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. With its origin rooted in Kashmir (Pakistan-supported), it is part of its Lashkar-e-Taiba. At the behest of LeT, TRF is involved in undertaking activities pertaining to executing terror attacks, recruitment for the outfit and spreading propaganda against India.
Apart from targeting civilians, minorities, tourists, and security forces, TRF was raised by Pakistan and particularly LeT to avoid Financial Action Task Force (FATF) scrutiny and global bans along with gaining local sympathy, and masking foreign sponsorship as local resistance, as per the source.
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