China Supports Terror Tag For TRF As All-weather Ally Pak Says ‘Don’t Consider Group Illegal’

In a rare diplomatic divergence, China has condemned the April 22 Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir and called for regional counter-terrorism cooperation— placing itself on the same page as its rivals United States and India, while implicitly distancing from its all-weather ally, Pakistan.

The condemnation came days after the US formally designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group. TRF, a shadow outfit of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack that killed 26 civilians, most of them Hindu tourists.

Why is China’s reaction significant?

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian issued an unambiguous statement denouncing the Pahalgam attack. “China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns the terrorist attack,” he said, urging countries in the region to “enhance counter-terrorism cooperation and jointly maintain regional security and stability”.

Although China has often shielded Pakistan-based groups from global scrutiny, including repeatedly blocking UN sanctions against LeT commanders, this statement marks a rare break. It signals a possible recalibration in Beijing’s approach to Kashmir-related terrorism, and a moment of tacit alignment with Washington and New Delhi.

The move follows sustained international pressure and growing criticism of China’s selective blocking of terror listings at the United Nations Security Council’s 1267 Committee. While it remains unclear whether Beijing will now support TRF’s listing in the committee, its current rhetoric departs sharply from its past practice of backing Islamabad’s positions on Kashmir.

How has Pakistan responded to the TRF terror tag?

Pakistan responded to the US designation with a mix of denial and deflection. In a formal statement, its foreign ministry rejected any link between TRF and LeT, labelling LeT a “defunct organisation banned in Pakistan.” It claimed to have dismantled related groups, prosecuted leadership, and deradicalised members.

In a more provocative intervention, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar admitted in Parliament that Islamabad had worked to prevent TRF from being named in the UN Security Council’s condemnation of the Pahalgam attack. He stated that he personally opposed the mention of TRF and succeeded in having it removed from the UN press statement. “We don’t consider TRF illegal,” Dar said, demanding proof despite TRF’s own claim and corroborated intelligence from foreign governments.

This defence has drawn criticism from Indian officials, who view it as a clear indication of state complicity in terrorism. Analysts also point out that Pakistan’s position undermines the credibility of its stated commitment to counter-terrorism.