Background on the Incident and Key Players
In April of last year, a commando killed 26 people in Pahalgam, a tourist town located in the part of Kashmir administered by India. The United States has now designated as terrorists the armed group that claimed responsibility for this attack in a Kashmir tourist area, triggering an Indian military offensive against neighboring Pakistan.
Who is the “Resistance Front”?
The “Resistance Front” is essentially a front for the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), according to a statement from the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. This designation supports India’s claim that the attack originated from Pakistan.
U.S. Stance and Impact
The U.S. designation as terrorists demonstrates the commitment of President Donald Trump’s administration to safeguarding national security interests, combating terrorism, and ensuring justice for the Pahalgam attack, as stated by Secretary Rubio.
Details of the Attack
Survivors reported to journalists that the attackers separated women and children from men and ordered some males to recite a Muslim declaration of faith.
India’s Perspective
India has classified the Resistance Front as a terrorist organization, and the Observer Research Foundation based in India views it as a “smokescreen” or branch of LeT.
Pakistan’s Denial
Pakistan has denied any responsibility for the attack.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who was responsible for the April Kashmir attack? The U.S. has designated the “Resistance Front” as terrorists, which is considered a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based militant group.
- What was the nature of the attack? A commando killed 26 people in Pahalgam, a tourist town in India-administered Kashmir. The attackers separated women and children from men, forcing some males to recite a Muslim declaration of faith.
- What is the U.S. stance on this issue? The U.S. has designated the “Resistance Front” as terrorists, demonstrating its commitment to protecting national security interests, combating terrorism, and ensuring justice for the Pahalgam attack.
- How has India responded? India has classified the Resistance Front as a terrorist organization and views it as a smokescreen for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
- What has Pakistan’s response been? Pakistan has denied any responsibility for the attack.
