China Snubs Pakistan After U.S. Declares TRF a Terrorist Group, Condemns Pahalgam Attack

In a surprising diplomatic move, China has distanced itself from Pakistan, its long-time ally, by supporting a stronger regional stance against terrorism. This comes after the United States officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF) — a Pakistan-based proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba — as a global terrorist organization.

U.S. Declares TRF a Terrorist Outfit

On Friday, the U.S. State Department, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, officially blacklisted The Resistance Front (TRF), the group that initially claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir earlier this year.

This move is expected to influence discussions within the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee, which imposes measures like asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes against individuals and groups associated with terrorism.

China’s Reaction: A Blow to Pakistan

China, which often shields Pakistan diplomatically, took an unusual stand. Reacting to the U.S. decision, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian not only condemned the April 22 Pahalgam attack but also called for enhanced anti-terror cooperation among regional nations.

“China strongly opposes all forms of terrorism and firmly condemns the April 22 attack,” Lin said in a press briefing in Beijing. “We urge neighboring countries to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.”

This is being seen as a diplomatic blow to Pakistan, which has faced criticism for harboring terror groups operating in the region.

"1868" data-end="2315">On April 22, 2025, a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, left 26 people dead. TRF initially claimed responsibility but later withdrew its statement amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Despite India presenting strong evidence linking TRF to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), both Pakistan and China reportedly objected to directly naming these groups in the UN Security Council’s condemnation statement.

U.S. Action Supports India's Claim

By declaring TRF a terrorist group, the U.S. has validated India’s long-standing assertion that TRF is merely a rebranded version of Lashkar-e-Taiba, used to disguise its activities under a new name.

According to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, this move lends credibility to India's claim that TRF operates under the umbrella of LeT, a group already designated under UNSC Resolution 1267.

What is the UN’s 1267 Committee?

The UN Security Council 1267 Committee deals with sanctions related to Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and associated individuals and entities. TRF’s addition to this list would place it alongside groups like:

Lashkar-e-Taiba
Jaish-e-Mohammed
Jamaat-ud-Dawa
And key figures like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. has officially declared TRF a terrorist organization, citing its links to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
China has condemned the Pahalgam attack, signaling a policy shift and urging stronger regional cooperation against terrorism.
The UN Security Council is expected to debate TRF's listing under the 1267 sanctions regime.
The development is a diplomatic win for India, which has long pushed for global acknowledgment of Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism.