In 2025, the United States declared TRF a global terrorist organisation. India had already banned it under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2023. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-backed terrorist group, has been under the spotlight after its growing involvement in attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Though it claims to be a local movement, TRF is widely known as a proxy of the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
How Lashkar’s TRF Runs Bloody Campaign As ‘Local Resistance’ ?
Why In News
- In 2025, the United States declared TRF a global terrorist organisation. India had already banned it under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2023. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-backed terrorist group, has been under the spotlight after its growing involvement in attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Though it claims to be a local movement, TRF is widely known as a proxy of the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
How Did TRF start
- TRF was formed in 2019, soon after Article 370 was removed from Jammu and Kashmir. The group was created to give a local face to terror activities backed by Pakistan-based handlers.
Who Leads TRF?
- The main commander of TRF is Sheikh Sajjad Gul, a 50-year-old from Srinagar.
- He studied BSc in Srinagar and completed his MBA in Bengaluru in 1996.
- He was arrested in Delhi in 2002 and got radicalised while in Tihar Jail.
- Later shifted to Srinagar Jail, he was released in 2006 and remained under watch until 2016.
- In 2017, he escaped to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) using a fake passport.
- There, he helped LeT set up TRF and is now believed to be operating from PoK.
- He carries a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, announced by the NIA.
- Other key LeT-linked handlers involved in TRF operations include Sajid Jatt and Salim Rehmani.
What Does TRF Do?
- TRF and LeT recruit Kashmiri youth to target:
- Non-locals living or working in the region
- Security forces
- Civilians in Jammu
- Terror plans are often made using encrypted social media apps. The NIA (National Investigation Agency) is currently investigating several TRF-led operations.
Who Is Arbaz Ahmad Mir
- Another important figure is Arbaz Ahmad Mir, a native of Kulgam who is now based in Pakistan.
- He was involved in the targeted killing of Rajni Bala, a Hindu schoolteacher, in May 2022.
- Arbaz handles cross-border arms smuggling and terror logistics.
- Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared him a terrorist in January 2023.
Major Attacks Linked to TRF
- April 2025 (Pahalgam): 28 killed, including tourists and a Navy officer
- June 2024 (Reasi): 9 pilgrims killed
- October 2024 (Sonamarg): 7 labourers killed
- September 2023 (Anantnag): 3 security personnel killed
- July 2020 (Bandipora): BJP leader and his family killed
- TRF’s Online Propaganda
- TRF is active on platforms like Mastodon (with over 200 followers), ChirpWire, BiP, and Telegram. It uses these apps to .. BiP, and Telegram. It uses these apps to:
- Claim responsibility for attacks
- Issue threats
- Spread propaganda
- Their media wing is called Jhelum Media House (JMH), which acts as their online mouthpiece.
China’s Reaction
- China called on regional countries to enhance counter terrorism cooperation to safeguard regional security, in a guarded reaction to the US designating The Resistance Front, a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), as a foreign terrorist organisation for its involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack.
- “China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns the terrorist attack that occurred on April 22,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a media briefing here on Friday when asked about the US State Department’s statement designating TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
Pakistan’s Statement
- Following this, Pakistan said it “dismantled” the terrorist network and any effort to link the Pahalgam terror attack with the “defunct” Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) was against the “ground reality”.
