What Is TRF? Lashkar-e-Taiba Offshoot Claims Responsibility for Pahalgam Terror Attack

At least 27 individuals were slain in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon in a gruesome terror attack that left the country stunned. The assault occurred around 2:30 pm when a team of unknown militants opened fire on vacationers, many of whom had traveled to the area during the height of the season. Many others were wounded and taken to hospitals in the vicinity, with the death toll anticipated to further increase. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has taken responsibility for the massacre. The attack has been widely condemned across the political spectrum and has elicited a high-level security response from the Indian government.

Leaders Condemn ‘Inhuman’ Attack

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his horror and grief over the incident, calling the attackers “inhuman” and “worthy of contempt.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Abdullah said, “This attack on our visitors is an abomination. No words of condemnation are enough. I’ve spoken to my colleague @sakinaitoo & she has moved to the hospital to oversee arrangements for the injured. I’ll be flying back to Srinagar immediately.”

What is the Resistance Front (TRF)?

The Resistance Front (TRF), which began operations following the repeal of Article 370 in August 2019, has come to be popularly regarded as a contemporary avatar of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Its leaders are reported to include Sajid Jatt, Sajjad Gul, and Salim Rehmani each with well-documented ties to LeT. TRF started life as a Karachi-headquartered, social media-focused unit and is presently active on Telegram, WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, TamTam, and Chirpwire. The latter are leveraged to spread propaganda, conduct radicalization, and recruit operatives.

A Rebranding Strategy to Evade Global Scrutiny

A senior police officer explained to The Indian Express that the title ‘The Resistance Front’ was strategically selected to play down its Islamist leanings, particularly when Pakistan was under pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). “Lashkar and Jaish-e-Mohammad carried religious undertones and Pakistan did not want that. They wanted to make Kashmir militancy look local. So, they chose ‘Resistance’ that carries some weight in international politics,” the officer added.

A Shadow for Other Terror Groups

Even though several terror groups including Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen are active in the Valley, TRF has been employed to claim responsibility for various attacks to create an impression of local resistance. One of its recent claims was for the October 2024 Z-Morh Tunnel attack in Ganderbal.

The emergence of TRF was first indicated when Jammu and Kashmir Police raided Over Ground Worker (OGW) units in Kupwara and Sopore. The outfits were found to be recruiting youngsters for the new group, and a huge arsenal of weapons was seized from the Line of Control (LoC) area. TRF has even issued threats earlier to Valley-based media outlets, which has caused local journalists to resign.

TRF Classified as a Terrorist Organization

In January 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) classified TRF as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in view of its role in recruiting militants, cross-border infiltration operations, and smuggling weapons from Pakistan. The MHA said that TRF was involved in psychological warfare to rally youth in Jammu and Kashmir against the Indian state.

In the wake of Tuesday’s massacre, TRF issued a statement advising locals and non-locals to abstain from joining what it referred to as “illegal projects.”

Government’s Immediate Response

Union Home Minister Amit Shah briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who straightaway ordered a high-level security review meeting that included the Home Secretary, senior Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials, and Director General of Police (DGP) Jammu and Kashmir. Shah is already on his way to Srinagar to personally evaluate the ground situation. “I strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I hope the injured recover soon. All possible efforts are being made to help those affected. The perpetrators of this despicable act will be brought to justice…They will not go unpunished! ” PM Modi posted on X.

Nationwide Condemnation from Political Leaders

The attack has been condemned from all sides. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called it a “cowardly” and “heinous” act. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also expressed the same sentiment, offering condolences and wishing for the recovery of the injured. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha stated that he had directed the district administration to provide immediate medical attention, while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti termed the incident “extremely troubling,” calling for a proper investigation into possible lapses.
Opposition Demands Accountability

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also denounced the terror attack and criticized the government’s response to the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir. “Instead of making hollow claims that everything is all right, the government will have to take responsibility now and actually do something,” he said.

A Mourning Country Waits for Justice While the country laments another senseless loss of innocent lives, the attack has highlighted the ongoing danger from Pakistan-sponsored terror outfits active in the Valley. With TRF still leading acts of violence in the name of local resistance, India’s counterterror efforts now take on a new sense of urgency.