After US terror tag, Pak may rename Lashkar offshoot to continue proxy war in India

Indian intelligence agencies are preparing for a potential rebranding of The Resistance Front (TRF) following its designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the United States, government sources told India Today TV. Sources revealed that Pakistan will attempt to rename the group to bypass international scrutiny, a common tactic to continue proxy warfare against India.

India’s intelligence community is actively building a dossier to trace any rebranding efforts back to TRF and LeT. This dossier will be shared with international partners such as the US, global anti-terror financing watchdog FATF, and the UN to prevent any diplomatic loopholes or legal protection for these groups, according to sources. Such efforts are crucial to maintaining international pressure and ensuring accountability, intel sources within the government further told India Today TV.

Indian security forces remain vigilant for the appearance of new "resistance" groups, particularly those with digital propaganda and connections to Pakistan. Any such identities will be monitored and legally disputed to ensure the TRF ban remains effective, said sources. By doing so, India aims to thwart any attempts by Lashkar and its proxy at circumventing international sanctions.

TRF, established by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence in 2019, is widely seen as an extension of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). "According to Indian officials, this development shows a pattern wherein banned groups are repeatedly renamed to escape international sanctions while continuing their core terror activities."

The group was set up post-abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, aiming to portray terrorism in the Valley as local resistance rather than foreign jihad. This strategic portrayal was intended to mask the group's true nature and objectives.

Despite its claims of being an indigenous movement, TRF has been involved in various attacks, including the Pahalgam incident, mirroring LeT's operational methods. Indian agencies note that the group’s objectives include avoiding financial scrutiny from bodies like the FATF and evading UN and US blacklists while attempting to recruit Kashmiri youth through the illusion of local militancy. The group employs sophisticated propaganda to attract recruits and maintain operational secrecy.

According to sources, TRF was founded by Muhammad Abbas Sheikh, who is now deceased. The current leadership includes Sheikh Sajjad Gul as commander, with Ahmed Khalid as the spokesperson. The group operates under Pakistan's long-standing infrastructure designed to promote jihad in Kashmir, leveraging existing networks and resources to sustain its activities.

The headquarters of TRF, along with its support network, is located in Muridke, Pakistan. India Today TV reported that the headquarters may be relocated to Bahawalpur under Saifullah Saif, with support from organisations like Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which blend humanitarian outreach with propaganda. This strategic positioning allows the group to continue its operations with relative impunity.

TRF’s recruitment strategy aligns with Pakistan's hybrid warfare doctrine, relying on martyrdom narratives and targeting educated individuals drawn by themes of regional injustice. With the US designation, any rebranding attempts by Pakistan are being closely watched by Indian agencies to prevent undermining of international efforts against terrorism, sources added.

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