Hafiz Saeed, the LeT chief. | (Photo Courtesy: ANI/Altered by FPJ)
Pahalgam: The Resistance Front (TRF), a banned militant outfit believed to be a proxy of Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed’s Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the horrific attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, that left 26 civilians dead.
The assault took place at the popular Baisaran meadow, where gunmen opened fire on tourists gathered in the area. In its statement, TRF cited alleged demographic changes in the Valley as justification for the bloodshed.
What Is the TRF?
The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadowy militant outfit with links to Pakistan-based terror groups, has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam massacre. In a statement quoted by The Times of India, the group said, “More than 85,000 domiciles have been issued to non-locals… these non-locals arrive posing as tourists… consequently, violence will be directed toward those attempting to settle illegally.”
TRF emerged in 2019 as a front for the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the group behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. It is suspected to be a tool of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to maintain plausible deniability while orchestrating terror operations in Kashmir. The outfit has also been involved in recruiting youth through online networks, as well as trafficking arms and narcotics into the Valley.
The group was officially banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in January 2023, and its top commander, Sheikh Sajjad Gul, has been titled as a terrorist by Indian authorities. Additionally, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) placed a bounty on Gul, citing his role in radicalising local youth and coordinating cross-border operations.
Civilians Were Asked Questions About Their ‘Religious Identity’
According to a report by TOI, multiple agencies are working together to identify the attackers, believed to have infiltrated from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation is suspected to have been overseen by TRF handlers across the border, possibly with direct input from LeT commanders.
Survivors of the attack reported being questioned about their identity and background moments before the shooting began. This raised concerns over the selective targeting of victims, possibly based on their demographic or religious profiling.
The entire Pahalgam region has been sealed off, and a search operation involving the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police is currently underway.
