China Backs US Terror Label on TRF, Calls for Joint Action After Pahalgam Attack

Updated on 2025-07-19T15:16:40+05:30

China Backs US Terror Label on TRF, Calls for Joint Action After Pahalgam Attack

China Backs US Terror Label on TRF, Calls for Joint Action After Pahalgam Attack

Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters that China “opposes terrorism in all its forms” and views the US move against the Lashkar‑e‑Tayyiba proxy as “constructive.” The comment marked a moment of public alignment with Washington on an issue touching New Delhi.

TRF had claimed the April blast that killed 26 pilgrims on the Srinagar‑Pahalgam highway, the worst civilian attack in India since 2008. The United States added the outfit to its Specially Designated Global Terrorist list this week, freezing assets and barring travel. Lin said the step was “consistent with global consensus.”

Pressed on possible fallout for India‑Pakistan ties, Lin replied that “dialogue is essential, yet killers of innocents deserve no shelter.” Analysts interpret the phrasing as Beijing’s attempt to balance its friendship with Islamabad and its growing trade with India.

New Delhi cautiously welcomed the remarks, calling them “encouraging.” Islamabad maintained it has dismantled Lashkar networks, while civil‑society voices demanded fuller transparency.
Observers believe the episode signals shifting regional dynamics. With Washington recalibrating South Asia policy and Beijing styling itself as a neutral broker, both powers want to prevent violence that could disrupt emerging economic corridors.

Independent security researcher Aditi Rao notes that previous US bans forced Lashkar financiers to reroute funds through informal channels, a pressure tactic that “slows, but rarely stops, operational planning.” She argues that China’s endorsement, though symbolic, could push multilateral bodies like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to adopt tougher, more enforceable blacklists against proxy outfits in the near term. Families of the victims, however, will judge success by fewer attacks, not statements. Continued vigilance and genuine cooperation remain essential to lasting security.