India Declares 23 Pakistan-Based Operatives as Terrorists Under UAPA

Punjab Newsline | New Delhi

In a major move against cross-border terrorism, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has designated 23 Pakistan-based individuals as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The latest notification increases the total number of individuals listed as designated terrorists under the Act to 80.

According to the MHA, the newly designated individuals are associated with banned terrorist organisations including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and, in one case, Al-Qaeda and ISIS. They are accused of recruiting terrorists, facilitating infiltration into Jammu & Kashmir, providing terrorist training, supplying weapons through drones, and conspiring to carry out attacks on security forces and civilians.

The ministry stated that three of the listed individuals are close associates of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed. They have been identified as Abdul Rauf, Hafiz Khalid Waleed, and Rana Iftikhar. The notification alleges that Rana Iftikhar coordinates among jihadist groups, radicalises youth, and works closely with Hafiz Saeed.

Abdul Rauf is accused of planning and coordinating terrorist operations, raising funds, and operating under Saeed’s direct command. Hafiz Khalid Waleed has been described as a key operative involved in masterminding multiple terrorist activities while providing security to Hafiz Saeed.

The notification further alleges that three of the designated terrorists were involved in the 2016 attack on the Army camp in Nagrota, while two others were linked to the 2018 terror attack on the Sunjuwan Military Station.

Among those added to the list are JeM operatives Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, Mohammad Musaddiq alias Doctor, Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan alias Abu Saad, Hafiz Abdul Shakoor alias Qari Jarrar, Abdullah Jihadi, Ghulam Farid, Maulana Imdad Ullah Makki, and Wasim Noor Jatt.

The list also includes alleged LeT operatives Firdous Ahmad Bhat, Haroon Rashid Ganie, Bilal Ahmad Mir, Abid Qayyum Lone, Nazir Ahmad Gujjar, Abdul Rauf alias Hafiz Abdul Rauf, Ashfaq Ahmad, Hafiz Khalid Waleed, Maulana Saifullah Khalid, Mohammad Yaqoob, Maulana Yousuf Taibi, Owais Farooq, Qari Yaqoob Sheikh, Rana Iftikhar, and Mohammad Shahid Faisal, who the government alleges is also linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

The Centre said the action is aimed at intensifying efforts to curb cross-border terrorism and dismantle networks involved in planning and executing terror activities against India.