Following the United States’ decision to classify The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), China has issued a strong condemnation of the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, calling for intensified regional cooperation to combat terrorism.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, addressing a regular press briefing in Beijing, described the April 22 assault, which claimed the lives of 28 civilians, as a reprehensible act of violence that demanded a 'united front' across the region.
“China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns the terrorist attack that occurred on April 22. China calls on regional countries to enhance counterterrorism cooperation and jointly maintain regional security and stability,” Lin said.
This marked the first time China has issued a direct and explicit condemnation of the involvement of a terror group in the Pahalgam attack, a rare shift in Beijing’s typically guarded stance on violence in Jammu and Kashmir. While China often uses general diplomatic language such as "opposing all forms of terrorism," it rarely comments on specific terror incidents inside Jammu and Kashmir, especially those involving Pakistani-linked groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba or its proxies.
In a rare show of alignment, Lin also praised Washington’s latest designation of TRF as a terrorist group, saying China appreciated efforts that contribute to the global fight against terrorism.
The US Department of State had on Thursday designated The Resistance Front, a known proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as both a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity. The announcement was made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Also read: US declares TRF as 'terror group,' months after Pahalgam massacre
“Today, the Department of State is adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by LeT,” the US statement read.
The statement further underlined that TRF had claimed responsibility for multiple attacks against Indian security forces, most recently in 2024.
“These actions taken by the Department of State demonstrate the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trump’s call for justice for the Pahalgam attack,” the statement said.
According to the US State Department, the TRF and its associated aliases have now been incorporated into LeT’s designation as an FTO and SDGT under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224. The amended designations take effect upon publication in the Federal Register.
TRF’s emergence as a front for LeT has raised renewed concerns about the evolution of proxy outfits that operate across South Asia while evading direct attribution. The Pahalgam attack marks the deadliest strike on Indian civilians since the 2008 Mumbai carnage, also orchestrated by LeT operatives.
While regional security stakeholders have often expressed differing approaches to tackling terrorism, China’s unequivocal statement suggests a hardening stance against non-state actors that destabilise the broader region.
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