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Hindustan Times
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Foreign secretary Misri provided TRF dossier to US and UN 1267 Committee
A month after the massacre of 26 Hindus at Baisaran, Pahalgam, on April 22, India provided dossier on The Resistance Front (TRF) to the Trump administration in Washington and the 1267 Sanctions Committee in New York, which ultimately paved the way for the front of Pakistani Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) group to be designated as a global terror group by the US State Department. People protest against the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people on April 22.(File) India was informed of the TRF designation as a global terror outfit four days before the formal notification on Thursday. The global terror tag on the TRF by the Trump administration demonstrates continuing convergence on the counter terrorism agenda between India and the US. Also, this is a message to Pakistan that the Trump administration will give them no quarter on terrorism no matter the much-celebrated lunch between Field Marshal Hafiz Asim Munir and President Donald Trump. While foreign secretary Vikram Misri handed over the TRF dossier to the US State Department during his visit to Washington on May 27-29, a similar dossier was also handed over to the UN 1267 Committee in New York for special designation of the group. The TRF, led by Sheikh Sajjad Gul aka Sajjad Ahmed Sheikh, the Kashmiri face of LeT specifically chosen by the ISI, has been involved in a series of terror attacks, including targeted killings, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 in central and south Kashmir. It has staged grenade attacks in Central Kashmir (2023), an ambush on JKP in Bijbehara area of Anantnag in 2023, Gagangir, Z-Morh tunnel attack and Ganderbal attack in 2024, apart from the Pahalgam massacre. Sajjad Gul is currently based in Rawalpindi and is involved in radicalisation, recruitment, planning and execution of terror attacks in J&K. His brother Parvez Ahmed Sheikh (an ex-doctor in SMHS Hospital, Srinagar) was a terrorist in the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s. Parvez went to Saudi Arabia with his family and then moved to Pakistan. He is involved in terror funding and hawala activities with Indian fugitives based in the Gulf Countries. Sajjad Gul, 50, who was designated as a terrorist under UAPA in 2022, belongs to the HMT area of Srinagar. He completed his basic education in Srinagar and then pursued an MBA in Bengaluru. He then pursued a laboratory technician course in Kerala and returned to Srinagar to set up a diagnostic lab and at the same time started providing support to LeT. He was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police from Nizamuddin Railway Station, and five kilograms of RDX were recovered from him. He was involved in reconnaissance of targets and conspiring to engineer bomb blasts in Delhi. Gul and his two associates were sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment on August 7, 2003. Following the completion of his sentence and release from prison, Sajjad escaped to Pakistan in 2017 along with his family. It was the ISI that chose Sajjad as head of TRF in 2019 to front-end for LeT and project that terrorism was home-bred in Jammu and Kashmir. The ISI strategised the move in the aftermath of the Pulwama bombing in February 2019, when Pakistan came under adverse notice of the world for sponsoring and harbouring terrorists and terror groups. While TRF is designed to project that terror in Kashmir is an indigenous movement, the fact is that it is a demon child of ISI-LeT.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
From Kashmir's streets to cyber terror: How Lashkar's TRF runs a bloody campaign as 'local resistance'
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). 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. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Operations Management Cybersecurity Healthcare Data Science MBA Data Science Design Thinking Digital Marketing Product Management Technology healthcare Leadership others CXO Degree Artificial Intelligence Public Policy PGDM Project Management Others MCA Finance Data Analytics Management Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Italian Craftsmanship. Velasca Undo 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. Live Events 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. The 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: Claim responsibility for attacks Issue threats Spread propaganda Their media wing is called Jhelum Media House (JMH), which acts as their online mouthpiece. with bureau inputs
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
TRF a proxy of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, say security forces
The Resistance Front (TRF), now designated by the United States as a global terror outfit, is a proxy of Pakistan-based proscribed group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The outfit was floated in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 to evade international sanctions against Pakistan, according to Indian security agencies. TRF has carried out terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir's Keran, Handwara, Sopore, Shopian, Anantnag, Reasi, and Pahalgam. Notable attacks include the Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025; the killing of nine Hindu pilgrims in Reasi on June 9, 2024; the murder of six migrant labourers and a doctor in Ganderbal on October 20, 2024, the killing of three Army and police personnel in Anantnag on September 13, 2023; and the murder of a BJP leader and two of his family members on, July 8, 2020. The Indian government designated the outfit as a terror organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in January 2023. Founded by Muhammad Abbas Sheikh (now deceased) in October 2019, it is currently headed by designated terrorist Sheikh Sajjad Gul. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has declared a reward of ₹10 lakh for him. 'Muhammad Abbas Sheikh, previously associated with Hizbul Mujahideen, played a key role in setting up TRF. He was killed in an encounter with security forces on August 23, 2021. After his death, Basit Ahmed Dar aka Abu Kamran, became its chief operational commander. He was also killed in an encounter on May 7, 2024, in Jammu & Kashmir's Kulgam,' said an official. The current TRF chief was allegedly a part of the conspiracy to assassinate prominent Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari in 2018. 'Gul was instrumental in launching TRF's digital media platform 'Kashmir Fight', through which threats were also issued to migrant Kashmiri Pandit employees,' the official said. Via 'Kashmir Fight', TRF indulges in anti-India propaganda, campaigns for recruitment, and also claims responsibility for attacks. Its website was registered on December 10, 2024, through an entity said to be based in Iceland. TRF has a presence on several digital platforms, including Mastodon, Chirpwire, and BiP. 'TRF usually focused on security forces and political figures, but late 2024 onward it started to target infrastructure projects and civilians, including non-locals, in Jammu & Kashmir,' the official said. Citing its direct role in the Pahalgam attack, the U.S. has formally designated TRF as a foreign terrorist organisation and a specially designated global terrorist entity. 'The U.S. statement acknowledges TRF's links with LeT and Pakistan Army; General Asim Munir's role; and the legitimacy of India's calibrated military response through 'Operation Sindoor' that was aimed at neutralising the terror launchpads,' the official said.
India Today
18-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
After US terror tag, Pak may rename Lashkar offshoot to continue proxy war in India
Indian intelligence agencies are preparing for a potential rebranding of The Resistance Front (TRF) following its designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the United States, government sources told India Today TV. Sources revealed that Pakistan will attempt to rename the group to bypass international scrutiny, a common tactic to continue proxy warfare against intelligence community is actively building a dossier to trace any rebranding efforts back to TRF and LeT. This dossier will be shared with international partners such as the US, global anti-terror financing watchdog FATF, and the UN to prevent any diplomatic loopholes or legal protection for these groups, according to sources. Such efforts are crucial to maintaining international pressure and ensuring accountability, intel sources within the government further told India Today security forces remain vigilant for the appearance of new "resistance" groups, particularly those with digital propaganda and connections to Pakistan. Any such identities will be monitored and legally disputed to ensure the TRF ban remains effective, said sources. By doing so, India aims to thwart any attempts by Lashkar and its proxy at circumventing international sanctions. TRF, established by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence in 2019, is widely seen as an extension of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). "According to Indian officials, this development shows a pattern wherein banned groups are repeatedly renamed to escape international sanctions while continuing their core terror activities."The group was set up post-abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, aiming to portray terrorism in the Valley as local resistance rather than foreign jihad. This strategic portrayal was intended to mask the group's true nature and its claims of being an indigenous movement, TRF has been involved in various attacks, including the Pahalgam incident, mirroring LeT's operational methods. Indian agencies note that the group's objectives include avoiding financial scrutiny from bodies like the FATF and evading UN and US blacklists while attempting to recruit Kashmiri youth through the illusion of local militancy. The group employs sophisticated propaganda to attract recruits and maintain operational to sources, TRF was founded by Muhammad Abbas Sheikh, who is now deceased. The current leadership includes Sheikh Sajjad Gul as commander, with Ahmed Khalid as the spokesperson. The group operates under Pakistan's long-standing infrastructure designed to promote jihad in Kashmir, leveraging existing networks and resources to sustain its headquarters of TRF, along with its support network, is located in Muridke, Pakistan. India Today TV reported that the headquarters may be relocated to Bahawalpur under Saifullah Saif, with support from organisations like Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which blend humanitarian outreach with propaganda. This strategic positioning allows the group to continue its operations with relative recruitment strategy aligns with Pakistan's hybrid warfare doctrine, relying on martyrdom narratives and targeting educated individuals drawn by themes of regional injustice. With the US designation, any rebranding attempts by Pakistan are being closely watched by Indian agencies to prevent undermining of international efforts against terrorism, sources added.- EndsMust Watch
News18
18-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Lashkar In Disguise To Evade FATF Scrutiny: Decoding The TRF-LeT Terror Blueprint
According to top intelligence sources, TRF terrorists receive direct instructions from LeT handlers based in Muzaffarabad. The Resistance Front (TRF), designated as a global terrorist organisation by the US State Department, is not an independent entity but a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), say top Indian intelligence sources. Created in October 2019, in the immediate aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370, TRF was reportedly formed under the guidance of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to provide plausible deniability for LeT's activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Top intelligence officials reveal that TRF's design was tailored to give Pakistan's jihadist operations a local and secular veneer, helping Islamabad dodge international scrutiny, especially from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The group has deliberately avoided overt religious branding and instead frames its attacks as part of a homegrown resistance, targeting Hindus, Sikhs, and tourists — a pattern aligned with LeT's Islamist ideology, intelligence sources confirm. TRF's operational style bears uncanny similarities to LeT's past behaviour. Its recent claim and subsequent retraction of responsibility for the deadly Pahalgam attack mirrors LeT's historical pattern of post-attack deniability when facing global backlash. Intelligence sources say this is a calculated move to mislead international observers and media by suggesting indigenous discontent rather than cross-border terrorism. According to Indian intercepts cited by intelligence agencies, TRF terrorists receive direct instructions from LeT handlers based in Muzaffarabad. The organisation also benefits from LeT's logistical network — ranging from arms smuggling and recruitment via madrassas to facilitating cross-border infiltration. TRF's leadership further cements the Lashkar link. Figures such as Sheikh Sajjad Gul, Basit Ahmed Dar, and Asif Fauji are either current or former LeT operatives, intelligence sources say. Notably, Saifullah Kasuri, a senior LeT figure and head of the Pakistan-based Markazi Muslim League, is believed to have masterminded the Pahalgam assault. This highlights the continued role of Lashkar's political arms, including the Milli Muslim League, in steering TRF's actions. On online platforms like Telegram and other encrypted apps, TRF amplifies anti-India jihadist rhetoric strikingly similar to LeT's past propaganda, further strengthening the view among Indian intelligence officials that TRF is merely Lashkar in new packaging. LeT has a long history of rebranding — from Jamaat-ud-Dawa to Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation — to sidestep global sanctions. TRF, sources believe, is the latest such shield, crafted to evade accountability while continuing Pakistan-sponsored jihad in Kashmir. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
