⚔️ The Resistance Front (TRF): The New Face of Terror in Kashmir

🧭 Thematic Focus:

Internal Security | Terrorism and Counterterrorism | Conflict in Jammu and Kashmir

🌟 Introductory Glimpse:

The brutal killing of 25 tourists and a local operator in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, has reignited concerns about the growing capabilities of The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadowy militant outfit believed to be an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), specializing in urban terrorism and propaganda warfare in Jammu and Kashmir.

🛤️ Key Highlights:

• TRF emerged post-Article 370 abrogation in 2019, presenting itself as a “new-age ideological force”.
• Known for urban militancy, online radicalization, and targeted civilian killings.
• Introduced tactics like body camera footage streaming, social media warfare, and precision urban strikes.
• Key leaders Muhammad Abbas Sheikh and Basit Dar were eliminated, but Pakistani handler Habibullah Malik alias Sajid Jutt continues to operate remotely.
• Despite claims of dismantling its local network, the recent Baisaran massacre underlines the fragile peace and evolving militant strategies in Kashmir.

📜 GS Paper Mapping:

• GS Paper 3: Internal Security | Terrorism and Counterinsurgency
• GS Paper 2: Governance | Law and Order Challenges

🧠 Concept Explainer: Understanding Urban Militancy and Hybrid Warfare

🏙️ Urban Militancy:

• A shift from traditional guerrilla warfare in forests/mountains to high-impact operations in densely populated urban settings.
• Tactics involve lone-wolf attacks, soft civilian targets, and minimalist communication to evade surveillance.

🌐 Hybrid Warfare:

• The blending of conventional terror acts with cyber operations, information manipulation, and psychological warfare.
• Groups like TRF exploit social media to project local grievances while masking external control and sponsorship.

🌟 In Short:
Modern terror organizations like TRF adapt quickly, blending militancy with information warfare — making them dangerous even with fragmented leadership.

🪄 A Thought Spark — by IAS Monk:

“When shadows change their shape but not their hunger, vigilance must become not just an action, but a habit of the soul.”