Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir | April 22, 2025
The recent terror attack on tourists in the scenic town of Pahalgam has been claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy terror group of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The attack, which left one tourist dead and at least 12 others injured, has reignited concerns over the growing audacity and operational capabilities of TRF in the Kashmir Valley.
🎯 What Happened?
On Tuesday, unsuspecting tourists enjoying horse rides and local snacks in the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam were suddenly ambushed by armed militants. Eyewitness accounts suggest the assailants asked names before opening fire, reportedly targeting non-Muslim tourists.
Shortly after the attack, a chilling video surfaced showing chaos, cries for help, and bleeding victims on the ground. One woman is seen pleading, “Please save my husband…” while others scream for help.
🔍 Who Is TRF?
The Resistance Front (TRF) emerged in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack in 2019 and became more active following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Though it presents itself as a “local resistance group,” TRF is widely known to be a front for LeT, backed and nurtured by Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI.
Security experts believe TRF was formed strategically to dodge global scrutiny, particularly from watchdogs like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which placed Pakistan on its grey list due to terror financing concerns.
🧠 Who Is the Mastermind?
According to intelligence sources, TRF is currently led by Sheikh Sajjad Gul, a notorious terror commander believed to be operating from Pakistan. He is accused of orchestrating multiple attacks in Kashmir, including last year’s assault on laborers in Ganderbal.
Gul operates through local modules who carry out reconnaissance before launching attacks. Security forces say the modus operandi remains consistent: targeted killings using low-intensity, high-impact tactics.
⚠️ TRF’s Role in Targeted Killings
Over the past few years, TRF has been involved in several targeted assassinations of:
- Minority community members
- Local political leaders (especially BJP workers)
- Policemen and army personnel
The group has even released “hit lists” on social media platforms, warning of future attacks. Their digital handlers are believed to be actively monitoring social and political activity across the valley.
🕊️ Why Is TRF a Growing Threat?
- It operates under the radar, avoiding direct association with globally banned outfits like LeT.
- Uses low-cost, high-impact strategies.
- Operates deep online propaganda to radicalize youth and spread fear.
- Receives logistical and intelligence support from ISI.
Security agencies fear that TRF’s activities are an attempt to recreate the volatile 1990s atmosphere in the Kashmir Valley, where targeted killings and fear crippled normalcy.
🚨 What Now?
Following the attack, Indian security forces have launched a massive manhunt across Pahalgam and adjoining forest regions. The army and local police are working in tandem to neutralize the module behind the attack.
The government is also under renewed pressure to:
- Strengthen tourist security,
- Disrupt TRF’s local recruitment and logistics chains, and
- Push for global action against Pakistan-backed proxy groups.
🔚 Conclusion
The Pahalgam attack serves as a grim reminder that while the valley moves toward peace and tourism revival, terror outfits like TRF continue to plot in the shadows. With clear links to Pakistan and a dangerous agenda of targeted killings, TRF is not just a local threat but a regional destabilizer that demands urgent global attention.
