China condemns Pahalgam Terrorist Attack

On July 18, 2025, during a media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people on April 22 in Jammu & Kashmir, asserting that China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism. He responded to the U.S. designation of The Resistance Front (TRF)—a group linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT)—as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). China urged regional cooperation to enhance counter-terrorism efforts and maintain regional security and stability, while affirming its rejection of violence .

The U.S. State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, officially listed TRF under its terrorist organization and sanctions framework, aligning with the UN Security Council’s 1267 sanctions regime, which already covers groups like LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, and figures such as Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar . The U.S. emphasized that this move reflects its commitment to national security and justice for the Pahalgam victims.

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India welcomed the U.S. action. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asserted that TRF—twice claiming responsibility for the Pahalgam attack—is indeed a proxy of LeT and lauded the U.S. for aligning with India’s long-running campaign for international pressure on terror groups based in Pakistan. The MEA confirmed that India’s cooperation with global partners would continue to ensure that terrorist outfits and their proxies are held accountable .

In contrast, Pakistan’s Foreign Office responded sharply, stating it had already "dismantled" the relevant terrorist network, prosecuted its leadership, and was conducting an ongoing investigation. Islamabad disputed any link between the attack and LeT, which it described as a defunct and banned group. Pakistan reaffirmed its zero‑tolerance policy on terrorism while stressing its commitment to international collaboration .

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