The United States has recently designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity. This move reveals new details about Pakistan’s terror strategies and has significant international implications.
The Resistance Front is actually a proxy group linked to the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. It was presented as a local group from Jammu and Kashmir, giving Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Taiba an easy way to deny direct involvement. The aim was to make the conflict seem like a local Kashmiri fight, while secretly backing terrorism in the region. Pakistan’s goal was also to avoid scrutiny from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international group that monitors money laundering and terror funding.
Recent investigations by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) have uncovered more details about TRF’s operations. It turns out that Pakistan cannot hide behind this proxy to escape FATF’s watchful eye. TRF has a strong network within Jammu and Kashmir, with many local supporters who stay in touch with contacts in the Gulf countries and Malaysia. These connections help fund their activities.
One key revelation involves a Malaysian resident named Sajad Ahmed Mir. Phone records show that Yasir Hayat, a suspect in the case, was in contact with Mir to arrange financial support. Hayat has made multiple trips to Malaysia to secure the funding needed for TRF. So far, investigations reveal that Hayat managed to raise around Rs 9 lakh — money he handed over to another operative, Shafat Wani, to carry out terrorist activities.
Wani, a prominent TRF operative, also traveled to Malaysia. His cover story was that he was attending a university conference, but authorities have found that his visit was unofficial. Wani’s role was to coordinate funds with his Malaysian contact and support terror operations.
The NIA also learned that Hayat was in contact with two Pakistani nationals. His main task was to gather funds and communicate with foreign contacts, especially targeting Malaysia and Pakistan for financial support. Officials are examining 463 phone contacts of Hayat, including numerous calls to Pakistan and Malaysia, to uncover the full money trail behind TRF.
These investigations are crucial. Revealing the flow of funds will help India strengthen its case against Pakistan for their role in funding terror groups. India aims to expose Pakistan’s terror networks to the world and push for international action under FATF rules.
Created in 2019, TRF was formed to replace the declining Hizbul Mujahideen and to give a new face to local militant activities in Kashmir. Its purpose was also to serve as a cover for Lashkar-e-Taiba’s operations, making attacks seem like indigenous resistance rather than Pakistani-sponsored terrorism. This rebranding was meant to mislead the global community and keep Pakistan out of trouble with international watchdogs like FATF.
This development shows how Pakistan continues to use proxy groups and covert funding to support terrorism. The recent US move and ongoing investigations highlight the importance of tracking terror funds and exposing the real sources behind the violence in Kashmir.
Keywords: Resistance Front, TRF, Pakistan terror funding, Lashkar-e-Taiba, terror networks in Kashmir, FATF, terror funding investigation, India terrorism case, terror proxy groups
