Terrorist perpetrators responsible for Kashmiri tourist shooting spree reportedly eliminated: official announces.
In the heart of Indian Kashmir, more than three months ago on April 22, a tragic attack occurred in the popular resort town of Pahalgam, claiming the lives of 26 people, including one man from Nepal. The attack was initially claimed by a shadowy group called The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation.
However, following public criticism over the killings, the TRF retracted its claim. Yet, investigations revealed that the rifles found on the three killed men were the same as those used in the April attack. Two of these terrorists were identified as members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan.
The TRF, it seems, serves as a front and proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba, a well-known terrorist organisation. This link has been explicitly acknowledged by the United States, which recently designated the TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity.
This designation comes after the TRF's emergence in August 2019, reportedly as an offshoot of LeT, following India's revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special autonomous status. Key leaders of TRF are known to have direct associations with LeT. Lashkar-e-Taiba has a history of employing front groups to conduct terror activities in India, with TRF being one such proxy.
India has welcomed this US designation, viewing it as a significant affirmation of Indo-US cooperation in counterterrorism. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that TRF has been involved in numerous terror-related actions, including the Pahalgam attack, for which the group claimed responsibility twice. India remains committed to aggressively countering terrorism and holding such groups accountable.
The April attack in Indian Kashmir sparked an intense four-day conflict between India and Pakistan in May, resulting in more than 70 casualties on both sides. This latest development serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing security challenges posed by Pakistan-backed militancy in the region.
It is crucial to note that Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, creating a complex and contentious political landscape. The neighbours have fought two wars and several conflicts over the control of Kashmir.
Recently, a military operation was conducted in the mountains of Dachigam, resulting in the killing of three heavily-armed men. The Indian government has detailed evidence of the three terrorists' involvement in the April attack.
As the world continues to grapple with the scourge of terrorism, the designation of the TRF as a terrorist organisation by the United States is a significant step towards countering this threat and holding those responsible accountable.
- The United States has designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity, following its emergence as an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a well-known terrorist group based in Pakistan, recognized for conducting war-and-conflicts and terror activities in India.
- The recent designation by the United States comes after India's welcoming it as a significant affirmation of Indo-US cooperation in counterterrorism, given TRF's involvement in numerous terror-related actions, such as the Pahalgam attack, which sparked an intense four-day conflict between India and Pakistan in May.
- General news and crime-and-justice coverage often highlight the ongoing security challenges posed by Pakistan-backed militancy in Indian Kashmir, where Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, creating a complex and contentious political landscape, marked by numerous wars and conflicts over control of the region.
