Lahore: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar backed the United States’ decision to designate Lashkar-backed The Resistance Front (TRF) as a “terrorist organization”. This marked a significant shift from Dar’s previous stance on the Pakistan-based terror group.
TRF had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that claimed the lives of 26 people. Speaking at an event in Washington, he said, "It is a sovereign decision of the United States to designate the TRF. We have no issue. And we welcome, if they have any evidence, that they are involved."
However, he went on to claim that linking TRF with Lashkar-e-Taiba is “wrong", without giving any evidence for his assertion. "That outfit was dismantled years ago by Pakistan. The actors were prosecuted, arrested, and jailed, and the entire outfit was destroyed".
India had designated TRF as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in January 2023. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, TRF emerged in 2019 through social media announcements, and since then, it has taken responsibility for several attacks across Jammu and Kashmir.
Dar also met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio late last week and said that the two countries were very close to a trade deal, and it could come within days.
| ‘Pakistan willing to talk to India': Dar Speaking during an interaction with the Atlantic Council, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated Islamabad’s willingness to engage in dialogue on a range of issues with India, from trade and economic cooperation to counter-terrorism. However, Dar noted that the ball is now in India’s court, stating that Pakistan is still awaiting a formal response from New Delhi. According to the Pakistan Foreign Office, Dar "called for composite dialogue between India and Pakistan to ensure peace and stability and resolving all longstanding issues". |
