China condemns Pahalgam attack, urges regional countries to enhance counterterrorism cooperation

China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian told media: "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," he said.

The Resistance Front (TRF), the group which claimed responsibility for the terror attack in the tourist magnet Jammu and Kashmir in northern India that left 26 people killed on April 22,  came to the forefront recently after the US designated it as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.

The TRF is a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: "Today, the Department of State is adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). "

Rubio acknowledged 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," he said.

TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024.

Rubio said the action take against the TRF demonstrates the Trump administration’s commitment to protect national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing the US President’s call for justice for 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" TRF said in the statement.

Pakistani Foreign Minister openly backs TRF

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has triggered a row by saying that the terror organisation The Resistance Front (TRF) was not illegal.

"We opposed the mention of TRF in the UNSC statement. I got calls from global capitals, but Pakistan will not accept," Dar was quoted as saying by the media.

Openly backing the group, he said: "We don't consider TRF illegal. Show us proof they carried out the Pahalgam attack."