The Resistance Front

2023-09-17T15:48:26Z

2606:1A40:1029:0:9008:3DD7:53FF:300:

{{Infobox War Faction
| name = The Resistance Front
| founders = Muhammad Abbas Sheikh{{KIA}}<ref>
{{Cite news |title=TRF Abbas Sheikh {{!}} Srinagar |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2021/08/26/who-was-abbas-sheikh-trf-chief-who-revived-militancy-in-srinagar.html}}</ref><br/>Sheikh Sajjad Gul<ref>
{{Cite news |title=TRF Sajjad Gul {{!}} Srinagar |url=https://kashmirreader.com/2022/04/20/let-commander-sajjad-gul-designated-as-terrorist}}
</ref>
| war = [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir]]
| designated_as_terror_group_by = {{flagdeco|India}} [[India]]
| image =
| caption =
| leader2_name = Basit Ahmed Dar<ref>
{{Cite news |title=Who is Basit Ahmed Dar, and why is he designated as a 'terrorist'? |newspaper=IbTimes India |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/self-declared-trf-chief-wanted-nia-announces-rs-10-lakh-reward-basit-dar-details-860774}}
</ref>
| spokesperson = Ahmed Khalid<ref>
{{Cite news |title=TRF Spokesperson Ahmed Khalid |newspaper=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/blood-will-spill-trf-issues-threat-ahead-of-amarnath-yatra-101653342140532.html}}
</ref>
| active = 2019-present
| split_from = [[Hizbul Mujahideen]]
| leader = Abu Hamza<ref>
{{Cite news |title=Who is Abu Hamza, and handling all operations of TRF? |newspaper=Daily Pioneer|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/india/offices-of-pak-based-trf-waging-terrorism-in-j-k--experts.html}}
</ref>
| leader1_title = Patron and Supreme Commander
| leader1_name = Sheikh Sajjad Gul<ref>
{{Cite news |title=TRF Sajjad Gul {{!}} Srinagar |url=https://kashmirreader.com/2022/04/20/let-commander-sajjad-gul-designated-as-terrorist}}
</ref>
| leader2_title = Chief operational Commander
| area = [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| slogan = Resistance till Victory (Tagline)
| size = 80-120
| allies = [[File:Logo of PAFF.svg|25px]] [[People's Anti-Fascist Front]]<br/>{{flagicon image|Al-Badr flag.svg}} [[Al-Badr (India)|Al-Badr]] <br/>{{flagicon image|Jaishi-e-Mohammed.svg}} [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]]
| opponents = {{flagdeco|India}} [[India]]
| website = kashmirfight.com
}}

'''The Resistance Front''' or TRF is a militant group involved in the ongoing [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir|insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir]]. Indian security agencies accuse it of being an offshoot of the militant group [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] (LeT) although TRF claims itself as an indigenous resistance movement fighting for the freedom of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] from [[India]],<ref>{{Cite news |title=TRF |url=https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/positioning-the-resistance-front-trf-in-kashmirs-militancy-landscape/}}</ref> TRF operates primarily in the [[Kashmir division|Kashmir region]], with a main base in [[Srinagar]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Militants Are Turning to Srinagar – Again |url=https://thewire.in/security/kashmir-srinagar-militants-trf-let |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=The Wire}}</ref>

TRF was founded by Sheikh Sajjad Gul<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joy,DHNS |first=Shemin |title=Centre bans LeT's proxy outfit 'The Resistance Front' |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/centre-bans-lets-proxy-outfit-the-resistance-front-1178338.html |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> of [[Srinagar]] and Abbas Sheikh<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=T. K. W. |title=Why was Abbas Sheikh the most wanted militant of Kashmir? |url=https://thekashmirwalla.com/why-was-abbas-sheikh-the-most-wanted-militant-of-kashmir/ |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=The Kashmir Walla |language=en-US}}</ref> of [[Kulgam district|Kulgam]] a former [[Hizbul Mujahideen]] commander after the [[Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir|abrogation of Article 370]] in 2019. TRF is considered the deadliest and biggest militant outfit in the current era of Kashmir militancy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Pakistan-backed The Resistance Front has become biggest headache of security forces in Kashmir |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/the-resistance-front-trf-let-lashkar-e-taiba-front-most-active-anantnag-encounter-2435627-2023-09-14 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Why The Resistance Front was under terror watch in Kashmir |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-the-resistance-front-was-under-terror-watch-in-kashmir-2318904-2023-01-08 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> TRF carried out dozens of attacks across [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] targeting Indian security forces, pro-Indian politicians, migrant laborers, and [[Kashmiri Pandits|Kashmiri pundits]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Network |first=Post News |title=TRF claims responsibility for killing Kashmiri Pandit sarpanch - OrissaPOST |url=https://www.orissapost.com/trf-claims-responsibility-for-killing-kashmiri-pandit-sarpanch/ |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jameel |first=Yusuf |title=TRF claims responsibility for BJP activist's killing in Bandipora; police blames Lashkar |url=https://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/090720/trf-claims-responsibility-for-bjp-activists-killing-in-bandipora-police-blames-lashkar.html |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=The Asian Age}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaiswal |first=Priya |title=Terrorists open fire on police party in Srinagar, 2 jawans killed; attack caught on cam |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/jammu-and-kashmir-terrorists-open-fire-police-party-srinagar-baghat-barzulla-2-jawans-killed-685932 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=India TV News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fareed |first=Rifat |title=Kashmir migrant workers flee amid rise in suspected rebel attacks |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/19/india-kashmir-attacks-non-locals-migrant-workers-exodus-civilians |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Origins ==
TRF came into existence as an online entity following the [[abrogation of Article 370]] and the revocation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.<ref name="x944"/><ref name="c928">{{cite news | title=The Resistance Front (TRF): Major Challenge for Kashmir Security Post Article 370, Behind Anantnag Gunfight | website=[[Times Now]] | date=14 September 2023 | url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/the-resistance-front-trf-major-challenge-for-kashmir-security-post-article-370-behind-anantnag-gunfight-article-103668082 | access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref> While it has connections to LeT, Tehreek-e-Millat Islamia, and Ghaznavi Hind, TRF was named in a way to avoid religious connotations and portray itself as a "people's movement." This nomenclature was intended to avoid scrutiny under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as Pakistan sought to present Kashmir militancy as indigenous.<ref name="j047">{{cite news | title=What is The Resistance Front, responsible for killing of 3 security officers in J&K's Anantnag? | website=[[Firstpost]] | date=14 September 2023 | url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/anantnag-encounter-what-is-the-resistance-front-responsible-for-killing-of-3-security-officers-in-jk-13124322.html | access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref>

On April 1, 2020, the TRF's name gained prominence after a four-day gun battle near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara's Keran Sector.<ref name="t898">{{cite news | last=Ashiq | first=Peerzada | title=The Resistance Front {{!}} Faceless killers in the Valley | website=[[The Hindu]] | date=9 October 2021 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-resistance-front-faceless-killers-in-the-valley/article36919542.ece | access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref>

== Activities ==
TRF has been linked to various activities, including planning attacks on security forces and civilians, coordinating the transportation of weapons for proscribed militant groups, recruitment of militants, infiltration across borders, and smuggling of weapons and narcotics.<ref name="x944"/> It has also taken responsibility for attacks in Jammu and Kashmir since 2020.<ref name="j047"/>

TRF has emerged as a significant security threat in Jammu and Kashmir, carrying out terror attacks, including targeting minority Kashmiri Pandits and security forces.<ref name="c928"/><ref name="t898"/> In 2022, it was responsible for a substantial number of terrorist fatalities in the region. TRF has also been active in recruitment, making it a prominent militant group in India.<ref name="j047"/><ref name="x944"/>

The TRF has claimed responsibility for several attacks in Jammu and Kashmir against Indian forces and it has made use of social media videos and posters to spread its propaganda.<ref name="j047"/><ref name="x944"/>

=== Recent Developments ===
Notably, TRF claimed responsibility for an [[2023 Anantnag encounter|attack on security officers]] in the Anantnag district using the [[guerilla warfare]] strategy, citing it as an "act of revenge" for the killing of their leader, LeT commander Riyaz Ahmed, in [[Azad Kashmir|Pakistan-administered Kashmir]].<ref name="j047"/><ref name="x944"/>

== International Implications ==
Pakistan's inclusion on the FATF's "grey list" in 2018 and its subsequent removal raised questions about TRF's emergence. Some believe that TRF was strategically created to divert attention from LeT and other terror groups under FATF scrutiny. This move allowed Pakistan to maintain plausible deniability for attacks in India.<ref name="j047"/>

== Ban and Designation ==
In January 2023, TRF was banned under the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]] (UAPA) by the Indian government. This action designated its leader, Sheikh Sajjad Gul, as a militant.<ref name="g882">{{cite news | last=Singh | first=Vijaita | title=Centre declares The Resistance Front a terrorist organisation | website=The Hindu | date=5 January 2023 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-declares-the-resistance-front-a-terrorist-organisation/article66343702.ece | access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref> The ban was imposed due to suspicions of TRF's involvement in a conspiracy to assassinate Kashmiri journalist [[Shujaat Bukhari]] in June 2018.<ref name="x944">{{cite news | last=Lavania | first=Sudeep | title=Why Pakistan-backed The Resistance Front has become biggest headache of security forces in Kashmir | website=India Today | date=14 September 2023 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/the-resistance-front-trf-let-lashkar-e-taiba-front-most-active-anantnag-encounter-2435627-2023-09-14 | access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflist}}
{{Militant Islamism in South Asia}}
{{War on Terrorism}}

[[Category:2020 establishments in India]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

The Resistance Front