Daijiworld Media Network- Washington

Washington, Jul 22: In a major diplomatic and counter-terror boost to India, the United States has officially designated the Terrorist Resistance Front (TRF) as a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' group. This announcement, made with specific reference to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, was welcomed by India as a strong endorsement of Indo-US cooperation on counter-terrorism.

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar described the move as a "strong affirmation of counter-terrorism ties", following earlier efforts by India to list the group at the United Nations. That bid was blocked by Pakistan, with even a mention of the outfit being removed from a Security Council press note on the Pahalgam incident.

TRF, which gained prominence following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, has been responsible for multiple targeted killings aimed at inciting communal tensions, including attacks on prominent Kashmiri Pandits, Sikh and Hindu teachers, and journalists. The group also gained notoriety for launching a twin drone attack on the Jammu air base in 2021.

With deep Lashkar-e-Taiba links and operational command allegedly based in Pakistan, TRF's denial of the Pahalgam attack three days after claiming responsibility appears to have stemmed from international pressure, especially as India took a tough diplomatic stance.

The US move to designate TRF as a terror outfit comes even as the Trump administration remains firm on pushing trade-related penalties on countries continuing ties with Russia. While India faces the possibility of steep tariffs on trade with Russian-linked entities, diplomatic channels continue to operate behind the scenes to navigate these challenges.

Amidst these developments, Quad partner nations, including India, recently met at the ‘Wavelength Forum’ in New Delhi to discuss strengthening subsea cable connectivity across the Indo-Pacific. The discussions underscored India's growing relevance as a digital hub and reflected the bloc's collective interest in secure and resilient technological cooperation.

With the next Quad summit on the horizon and defence agreements including a 10-Year Framework in progress, Indo-US cooperation appears to be expanding steadily across defence, technology, and strategic platforms—despite occasional diplomatic friction over tariffs and trade policies.

Observers say the partnership remains rooted in long-standing mutual interests, with India determined to retain its strategic autonomy while continuing constructive engagement with the US and other allies.