The Union Home Ministry on Friday designated 23 Pakistan-based operatives linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jamaat-ud-Dawa and The Resistance Front (TRF) as individual terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), according to the latest government notification issued on July 4, 2026. Under the UAPA, 1967, the Centre has the authority to designate an individual as a terrorist if it believes the person is involved in terrorist activities. The inclusion of these individuals in the list of designated terrorists enables agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to freeze financial assets, impose restrictions on arms-related transactions and initiate the attachment or seizure of properties linked to them. As per the latest government notification, these individuals are accused of roles ranging from recruitment, training, infiltration and logistics support to financing, arms supply, drone-based weapons delivery and planning or facilitating terror attacks in India.
The provision to designate individuals as terrorists was introduced through an amendment to the UAPA in 2019. Prior to the amendment, only organisations could be declared terrorist entities under the law. This amendment significantly expanded the government's counter-terrorism tools, allowing for targeted financial and property restrictions against specific individuals involved in terrorist activities. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967) empowers the central government to add the name of an individual as designated terrorist if it believes that the individual is involved in terrorism. Including the names of terrorists in the list will allow the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to block their finances, impose embargo on arms sales, and seize their assets.
On Friday, 23 Pakistan-based terrorists, including those involved in attacks on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, were added to the list, taking the total number to 80. Out of the 23 terrorists announced today, 11 are originally from Jammu and Kashmir, while the remaining are Pakistani nationals. The Centre has added Jaish-e-Mohamed terrorists like Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan, Hafiz Abdul Shakoor, Abdullah Jehadi, Ghulam Fareed, Bilal Ahmad Mir, and Abid Qayoom Lone. Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists Firdous Ahmad Bhat, Haroon Rashid Ganai, Nazir Ahmed Gujjar, Owais Farooz Mir, and Mohammed Shaheed Faisal have also been added to the list. The designations include individuals involved in the April 22, 2022 attack on security forces at Sunjwan, Jammu, and the November 29, 2016 attack on the Indian Army camp at Nagrota, Jammu. Among the 23 individuals, three are alleged close associates of LeT founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, with Rana Iftikhar (54) coordinating among anti-Jihadi organisations and motivating youths to carry out terrorist activities, Abdul Rauf (52) involved in planning and coordinating terrorist activities, collecting funds and serving as one of the main terrorists in LeT under Saeed's direct command, and Rana Iftikhar (54) coordinating among anti-Jihadi organisations and motivating youths to carry out terrorist activities.
The move from the Centre comes as multiple security and investigation agencies continue to track cross-border terror networks accused of using drones, encrypted communication platforms, and online recruitment channels to sustain militant activity in Jammu and Kashmir. Masood Ilyas Kashmiri (JeM) has been linked to the conspiracy behind the 2022 Sunjwan Army camp attack, while Mohammad Musaddiq (JeM) is accused of coordinating infiltration and terror operations for the Sunjwan attack. Mufti Mohammad Asgar Khan has been identified as a key operator of the infiltration network linked to the 2016 Nagrota Army camp attack, with Hafiz Abdul Shakoor accused of maintaining contact with local networks and facilitating infiltration prior to the 2016 Nagrota attack. Abdullah Jehadi (Shah Nawaz/Al Hijama) is accused of assisting the terrorists involved in the Nagrota attack and operating several JeM camps. Firdaus Ahmed Bhat (LeT) has been linked to infiltration and logistical support, identified as a 'launching commander' for Lashkar, while Bilal Ahmed Mir alias Ahmed Bhai (LeT/TRF) is accused of orchestrating cross-border terror activities and supplying weapons for Lashkar and TRF. India has time and again voiced commitment to its zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism, dismantling terror ecosystems, decisive operations, and aggressive global diplomacy. The Central Government this year has unveiled the country's first comprehensive National Counter Terrorism Policy and Strategy, branded 'PRAHAAR', marking a significant shift towards its security doctrine.
