Pakistan's deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar has expressed support for the United States' decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a terrorist organisation, marking a significant shift from his previous position.
Speaking at an event in Washington DC, Dar stated that Pakistan has "no objection" to the US designation, however, said that linking TRF with Lashkar-e-Taiba is "wrong."
“It is obviously a sovereign decision of the United States to designate the TRF. We have no issue. And we welcome, if they have any evidence, that they are involved,” Dar said.
“Linking the TRF to the Lashkar-e-Taiba is wrong. That outfit was dismantled years ago by Pakistan. The actors were prosecuted, arrested and jailed, and the entire outfit was destroyed,” he added.
However, this statement stands in stark contrast to his earlier position in Pakistan's Parliament. Earlier, As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Dar had declared that Pakistan blocked the mention of TRF in the UNSC's condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives.
"We opposed the mention of TRF in the UNSC statement. I got calls from global capitals, but Pakistan will not accept," Dar said. "TRF was deleted, and Pakistan prevailed."
He further added, "We don't consider TRF illegal. Show us proof they carried out the Pahalgam attack . Show ownership by TRF. We won't accept the allegation, and TRF had to be deleted from the UN press release."
Earlier in July, US designated TRF a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
Highlighting the TRF's involvement in multiple attacks against India, including the deadly Pahalgam attack, the state department said the decision reflected the Trump administration’s "commitment to protecting US national security, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trump’s call for justice following the Pahalgam attack".
"TRF and other associated aliases have been added to LeT’s designation as a FTO and SDGT pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, respectively. The Department of State has also reviewed and maintained the FTO designation of LeT. Amendments to FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register," the statement read.
The Resistance Front was formed in 2019 as a proxy of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and was banned by the central government in 2023.
It has been actively involved in recruiting youth online, facilitating the infiltration of terrorists, and smuggling weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir.
TRF had also claimed responsibility for several attacks targeting civilians, political leaders, and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Its founder and commander, Sheikh Sajjad Gul, has been designated a terrorist under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Speaking at an event in Washington DC, Dar stated that Pakistan has "no objection" to the US designation, however, said that linking TRF with Lashkar-e-Taiba is "wrong."
“It is obviously a sovereign decision of the United States to designate the TRF. We have no issue. And we welcome, if they have any evidence, that they are involved,” Dar said.
“Linking the TRF to the Lashkar-e-Taiba is wrong. That outfit was dismantled years ago by Pakistan. The actors were prosecuted, arrested and jailed, and the entire outfit was destroyed,” he added.
However, this statement stands in stark contrast to his earlier position in Pakistan's Parliament. Earlier, As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Dar had declared that Pakistan blocked the mention of TRF in the UNSC's condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives.
"We opposed the mention of TRF in the UNSC statement. I got calls from global capitals, but Pakistan will not accept," Dar said. "TRF was deleted, and Pakistan prevailed."
He further added, "We don't consider TRF illegal. Show us proof they carried out the Pahalgam attack . Show ownership by TRF. We won't accept the allegation, and TRF had to be deleted from the UN press release."
Earlier in July, US designated TRF a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
Highlighting the TRF's involvement in multiple attacks against India, including the deadly Pahalgam attack, the state department said the decision reflected the Trump administration’s "commitment to protecting US national security, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trump’s call for justice following the Pahalgam attack".
"TRF and other associated aliases have been added to LeT’s designation as a FTO and SDGT pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, respectively. The Department of State has also reviewed and maintained the FTO designation of LeT. Amendments to FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register," the statement read.
The Resistance Front was formed in 2019 as a proxy of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and was banned by the central government in 2023.
It has been actively involved in recruiting youth online, facilitating the infiltration of terrorists, and smuggling weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir.
TRF had also claimed responsibility for several attacks targeting civilians, political leaders, and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Its founder and commander, Sheikh Sajjad Gul, has been designated a terrorist under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
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