Pakistan rejects ‘TRF-LeT' link after US terror designation, calls for objective global CT approach
In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Islamabad reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and stressed that Pakistan remains a frontline state in the global counterterrorism effort.
It highlighted Pakistan's contributions, including the recent apprehension of Sharifullah, the alleged mastermind of the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul.
The development comes after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation of TRF following an April 2025 attack in Pahalgam, located in the internationally recognised disputed territory of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 people.
Rubio claimed TRF is an offshoot of LeT, the group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
While investigations into the Pahalgam incident remain inconclusive, Pakistan rejected any association with LeT, saying it is a defunct organisation already dismantled within the country.
'Pakistan has effectively prosecuted the leadership and deradicalised cadres of such outfits,' the statement said.
The Foreign Office warned that India has a record of exploiting terrorism-related designations for propaganda purposes.
'India uses such designations to divert global attention from its ongoing human rights violations in IIOJK and its rogue behaviour in the region,' it said.
Pakistan also urged the international community to pursue an objective and non-discriminatory approach to terrorism, calling for equal attention to other groups such as the Balochistan-based Majeed Brigade, which it said should be listed as an alias of the banned BLA.
'Pakistan's counterterrorism role is globally acknowledged, and its sacrifices are unmatched,' the statement added. 'Tackling terrorism demands collective international efforts, not selective attribution or politicization.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
FO slams India's 'Operation Mahadev' as 'entirely fabricated'
Listen to article Pakistan has firmly rejected the unfounded assertions made by Indian leaders during the recent Lok Sabha debate on the so-called 'Operation Sindoor.' According to the Foreign Office, the statements are part of a broader pattern to distort facts, justify aggression, and glorify conflict for domestic purposes. During a media briefing on Friday, FO Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated that India's attack on Pakistan, targeting alleged terrorist infrastructure, resulted in the loss of innocent lives. Despite this, Pakistan successfully neutralised Indian fighter jets and military targets, highlighting the failure of India's military objectives. 'The world knows that India attacked Pakistan without any verifiable evidence or credible investigation into the Pahalgam attack,' he said. 'Pakistan's actions in defending its territory were indisputable, and we strongly reject any further claims regarding the so-called 'Operation Mahadev,'" he added. The spokesperson also criticised India for rejecting Pakistan's offer for a transparent, independent investigation into the Pahalgam attack. Instead of seeking diplomatic solutions, India escalated tensions, prompting Pakistan to call for acknowledgment of India's military losses and the role of third parties in securing the ceasefire, the statement read. Pakistan has consistently rejected India's rhetoric on establishing a 'new normal' in bilateral relations. Khan reiterated that for Pakistan, the 'normal' in relations must be grounded in respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and adherence to international law, as outlined in the UN Charter. He also reaffirmed Pakistan's readiness to counter any future aggression, as demonstrated in May. The FO spokesperson also dismissed India's claims of 'nuclear blackmail,' calling it a tactic to obscure India's own escalatory actions. He clarified that Pakistan's deterrence is based on its conventional capabilities, underscoring its principles of discipline and restraint. Regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan strongly condemned India's decision to suspend the agreement, describing it as a violation of international commitments. Khan urged India to immediately honour its obligations under the treaty. Also Read: Pakistan hit with 19pc tariff as Trump targets dozens of countries with new duties He also expressed concern over India's reliance on disinformation and nationalist rhetoric, warning that such actions jeopardise regional stability. "Nevertheless, Pakistan remains committed to peace, stability, and meaningful dialogue to address longstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," he said. The briefing also highlighted the diplomatic activities of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who visited the United States from July 20-28. The FO mentioned that during his tenure as president of the UN Security Council, Dar chaired a session focused on enhancing cooperation between the UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). On regional matters, the FO spokesperson welcomed the positive conclusion of Malaysia's special meeting on the Cambodia-Thailand situation, expressing hope for a peaceful diplomatic resolution. Read: Five cops martyred as Katcha bandits attack check post in Rahim Yar Khan He further commented on Pakistan successfully launching its remote sensing satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China. The satellite will greatly enhance Pakistan's capabilities in urban planning, disaster management, agricultural monitoring, and climate change research, he added. The spokersperson also said Pakistan looked ahead to the upcoming state visit of Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian over the weekend. The visit, marking his first official visit to Pakistan as president, is expected to further solidify the strong and enduring relationship between the two nations, he stated. The briefing concluded with a summary of Pakistan's ongoing commitment to regional cooperation, including its dialogues with high-level officials from China, Iran, and Turkey, reaffirming Pakistan's focus on fostering peace and stability across South Asia and beyond. Read More: GHQ commemorates 98th anniversary of China's PLA Responding to a question on Dr Aafia Siddiqui's case, the spokesperson dismissed speculation that Pakistan had changed its position. 'There is no policy shift,' the spokesperson said. 'The government continues to pursue her case through diplomatic, legal, and humanitarian channels.' He reiterated that the government has consistently pursued Dr Siddiqui's case since her 2010 conviction, employing high-level diplomacy, consular access, legal assistance, and clemency appeals to press for her release from US custody. 'Attempts on social media to misrepresent the government's efforts in this regard are regrettable,' he added. 'Pakistan will continue to pursue all diplomatic and legal channels to secure Dr Aafia Siddiqui's release while upholding international law and bilateral cooperation.'
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
US, allies accuse Iran of 'overseas killings'
The United States and more than a dozen of its allies on Thursday accused Iran of attempting to kill or kidnap people in Western countries, including dissidents, journalists and officials. "We are united in our opposition to the attempts of Iranian intelligence services to kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe and North America in clear violation of our sovereignty," the countries said in a joint statement. "These services are increasingly collaborating with international criminal organizations to target journalists, dissidents, Jewish citizens, and current and former officials in Europe and North America. This is unacceptable," the statement said. A UK parliamentary committee earlier this month blamed Iran for at least 15 attempts to kill or kidnap British-based individuals since 2022. Dutch intelligence meanwhile accused Tehran of staging a 2024 assassination attempt on an Iranian living in that country. The plot was thwarted when police intervened and arrested two suspects
Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Express Tribune
UNSC report affirms BLA-TTP nexus
Listen to article Outlawed terrorist groups — Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), including its Majeed Brigade, and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — have "close coordination", according to the annual report of the UN's 1988 Taliban sanctions committee monitoring team. The United Nations Security Council report pointed out that "some BLA attacks showed a high degree of complexity and brutality", citing Jaffar Express' dramatic hijacking in Pakistan's Balochistan province on March 11, 2025, killing 31 people, including 21 hostages. The report also took note of the April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir (IIOJK), without giving any opinion on the incident. It mentioned The Resistance Front (TRF), which initially claimed responsibility for the attack, later retracted it. Despite intense Indian campaign, the report did not link TRF with the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), but noted that a member state had insisted that the attack could not have happened without LeT's support. At the same time, another member state, it added, rejected these views, saying that LeT was defunct. The report said that regional relations remain fragile and "there is a risk that terrorist groups may exploit these regional tensions." It added that the TTP had approximately 6,000 fighters and continued to receive substantial logistical and operational support from the de facto authorities (Taliban). "Some member states reported that the TTP maintained tactical-level connections with ISIL-K or Daesh," it said. "TTP continued to carry out high-profile attacks in the region, some of which incurred mass casualties," said the report. It reported that the TTP had continued access to a range of weapons, enhancing the lethality of attacks — a reference to the military equipment left behind by the departing American troops in 2021. "One member state reported that in January 2025, the TTP provided training to terrorists in Balochistan." The report also said that the de facto authorities in Afghanistan — Taliban — continued to maintain a permissive environment for a range of terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda and its affiliates, posing a serious threat to the security of Central Asian and other countries. The ISIL-K or Daesh, it added, continued to represent the most serious threat, both regionally and internationally. "With about 2,000 fighters, ISIL-K continued to recruit both inside and outside Afghanistan, including among Central Asian States and the Russian North Caucasus, as well as disaffected fighters from other groups," the report said. "There are concerns that some extremist fighters could move from the Syrian Arab Republic to Afghanistan and further to stage operations against regional States, firstly in Central Asia." "In North Afghanistan and areas close to the Pakistani borders, the ISIL-K indoctrinated children in madrassas, establishing a suicide training course for minors aged approximately 14 years old," the report said. "The ISIL-K continued to prioritise attacks on Shia communities, the de facto authorities and foreigners. Under the leadership of Sanaullah Ghafari, fighters were scattered across the northern and north-eastern provinces of Afghanistan." The ISIL-K, it added, tried to establish operations in the states neighbouring Afghanistan and globally. The efforts of the de facto authorities diminished the ISIL-K capabilities, but it continued to operate with relative impunity, exploiting discontent with Taliban governance. "While the leadership remained predominantly Afghan Pashtun, the rank and file were now mostly of Central Asian origin. Some of the ISIL-K supporters attempting to cross borders were female, including wives of Central Asian fighters," the report added.
