A senior US lawmaker from Donald Trump’s party has openly endorsed India’s position on the Pahalgam terror attack, stating that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its front organisation, The Resistance Front (TRF), were responsible for the massacre that killed 26 people earlier this year. Speaking during a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, Representative Bill Huizenga said the Trump administration acted swiftly after the attack, designating TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) in July 2025.
Huizenga described the Pahalgam assault as a “heinous terror attack” and underlined that the US decision to blacklist TRF reflected Washington’s commitment to countering transnational terror groups operating from Pakistan. He emphasised that strengthening ties with India was crucial for America’s strategic interests, including securing the Indo-Pacific and building resilient global supply chains.
However, his remarks have also highlighted a contradiction in US policy. Even as Washington echoes India’s concerns and identifies Pakistan-rooted terror networks, the Trump administration has simultaneously deepened engagement with Islamabad. The shift follows Pakistan’s renewed diplomatic outreach to Trump, which coincided with a period of cooling US-India ties earlier this year. Pakistan has since secured reduced tariffs—19%, compared to the 50% levy imposed on India—and substantial defence funding from Washington.
Notably, Huizenga’s comments came on the same day the US approved a $686 million upgrade package for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets, a decision that New Delhi is likely to scrutinise closely.
The Pahalgam attack on April 22 was the deadliest terror strike in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. TRF initially claimed responsibility before retracting its statement. Pakistan denied any involvement, insisting LeT no longer operates within its borders. India retaliated a month later with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps and military installations deep inside Pakistani territory.
In July, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally designated TRF as both an FTO and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity. India welcomed the move as an “important and timely step” that strengthened counterterrorism cooperation.
Huizenga also used his remarks to push for progress on a long-pending India–US trade agreement. He stressed that the bilateral relationship is not merely important but “defining for the 21st century,” arguing that US-India cooperation is essential for a democratic, rules-based global order.
Despite months of stalled negotiations, there was a glimmer of optimism as US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Washington had received its “best-ever offer” from India, signalling potential movement on the deal.
