<p>Srinagar: The Resistance Front (TRF), a terror outfit widely regarded as a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has reportedly claimed responsibility for a horrific attack in Pahalgam, a popular hill station in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The assault left 27 civilians dead, most of them tourists.</p><p>Although security agencies have yet to confirm the authenticity of TRF’s claim, the group alleged that the attack was retaliation against the issuance of 85,000 domicile certificates to non-locals, which it described as an attempt to engineer demographic change in the Union Territory. </p><p>In a statement, TRF warned that “violence will be directed toward those attempting to settle illegally.”</p>.Explained | Formed after abrogation of Article 370, Hafiz Saeed link: All you need to know about terror outfit TRF.<p>TRF emerged in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, primarily as an online entity. Its leadership comprises individuals closely linked to LeT—namely Sajid Jatt, Sajjad Gul, and Salim Rehmani—all reportedly operating from Pakistan.<br></p><p>Lashkar-e-Taiba, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, is infamously known for orchestrating the 2008 Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives.<br></p><p>TRF is believed to operate with a decentralized structure, collaborating with other terror outfits. It maintains a strong presence on social media, using these platforms for propaganda, recruitment, and coordination.<br></p><p>A senior police officer involved in counter-insurgency operations told Deccan Herald that TRF is essentially a shadow group jointly created by LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad, under the guidance of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). “TRF was formed to give cross-border terrorism in Kashmir a ‘home-grown’ appearance in 2019, especially due to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog on terror financing,” the officer explained.<br></p><p>He said TRF’s name was deliberately chosen to break from the trend of using explicitly Islamic names, aiming instead to project a neutral image rooted in Kashmiri nationalism. “It’s similar to the early 2000s when LeT attacks were often claimed by the ‘Save Kashmir Movement’, another shadow group,” he added.<br></p><p>Despite these attempts at rebranding, security agencies maintain that TRF is merely an offshoot or front of the Pakistan-based LeT. Since its inception, the group has been involved in numerous attacks targeting civilians, including Kashmiri Pandits, migrant workers, and security personnel.<br></p><p>Some of TRF’s most notorious acts include the 2020 Keran encounter, the 2021 killing of BJP councillors in Sopore, the murders of prominent chemist Makhan Lal Bindroo and school principal Supinder Kaur, as well as the 2024 killings of construction workers in Ganderbal and the Reasi pilgrims attack.<strong><br></strong></p>
<p>Srinagar: The Resistance Front (TRF), a terror outfit widely regarded as a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has reportedly claimed responsibility for a horrific attack in Pahalgam, a popular hill station in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The assault left 27 civilians dead, most of them tourists.</p><p>Although security agencies have yet to confirm the authenticity of TRF’s claim, the group alleged that the attack was retaliation against the issuance of 85,000 domicile certificates to non-locals, which it described as an attempt to engineer demographic change in the Union Territory. </p><p>In a statement, TRF warned that “violence will be directed toward those attempting to settle illegally.”</p>.Explained | Formed after abrogation of Article 370, Hafiz Saeed link: All you need to know about terror outfit TRF.<p>TRF emerged in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, primarily as an online entity. Its leadership comprises individuals closely linked to LeT—namely Sajid Jatt, Sajjad Gul, and Salim Rehmani—all reportedly operating from Pakistan.<br></p><p>Lashkar-e-Taiba, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, is infamously known for orchestrating the 2008 Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives.<br></p><p>TRF is believed to operate with a decentralized structure, collaborating with other terror outfits. It maintains a strong presence on social media, using these platforms for propaganda, recruitment, and coordination.<br></p><p>A senior police officer involved in counter-insurgency operations told Deccan Herald that TRF is essentially a shadow group jointly created by LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad, under the guidance of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). “TRF was formed to give cross-border terrorism in Kashmir a ‘home-grown’ appearance in 2019, especially due to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog on terror financing,” the officer explained.<br></p><p>He said TRF’s name was deliberately chosen to break from the trend of using explicitly Islamic names, aiming instead to project a neutral image rooted in Kashmiri nationalism. “It’s similar to the early 2000s when LeT attacks were often claimed by the ‘Save Kashmir Movement’, another shadow group,” he added.<br></p><p>Despite these attempts at rebranding, security agencies maintain that TRF is merely an offshoot or front of the Pakistan-based LeT. Since its inception, the group has been involved in numerous attacks targeting civilians, including Kashmiri Pandits, migrant workers, and security personnel.<br></p><p>Some of TRF’s most notorious acts include the 2020 Keran encounter, the 2021 killing of BJP councillors in Sopore, the murders of prominent chemist Makhan Lal Bindroo and school principal Supinder Kaur, as well as the 2024 killings of construction workers in Ganderbal and the Reasi pilgrims attack.<strong><br></strong></p>