New Delhi: In a major crackdown on cross-border terrorism, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday designated 23 more Pakistan-linked operatives as individual terrorists under Section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. The move is aimed at intensifying India’s efforts to dismantle terror networks operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
The newly designated individuals are linked to banned terrorist organisations including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and The Resistance Front (TRF). According to the Home Ministry, they have been involved in a wide range of terror-related activities, including recruitment of militants, providing terrorist training, facilitating cross-border infiltration, arranging logistics, financing terror operations, supplying arms and ammunition, coordinating drone-based weapon deliveries, and planning or facilitating terrorist attacks in India.
Officials said the action has been taken under Section 35 of the UAPA, which empowers the Central Government to designate individuals as terrorists by including their names in the Fourth Schedule of the Act. The latest notification is among the largest additions of individual terrorists under the law in recent years and reflects the government’s continued “zero tolerance” approach towards terrorism.
The 23 individuals designated as terrorists are Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, Mohammad Mussadiq, Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan, Hafiz Abdul Shakoor, Abdullah Jehadi, Firdous Ahmad Bhat, Ghulam Fareed, Bilal Ahmad Mir, Abid Quyoom Lone, Nazir Ahmed Gujjar, Abdul Rauf, Ashfaq Ahmad, Hafiz Khalid Waleed, Maulana Saifullah Khalid, Mohammad Yaqoob, Maulana Yousaf Taibi, Owais Farooz, Qari Yaqub Sheikh, Rana Iftikhar, Waseem Noor Jat, Mohammed Shaheed Faisal, Maulana Imdad Ullah Makki, and Haroon Rashid Ganai.
According to security agencies, the designated operatives have played key roles in strengthening terrorist infrastructure across the border. Investigations indicate that several of them were actively involved in radicalising youth, recruiting operatives, coordinating infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir, raising funds through terror-financing channels, smuggling sophisticated weapons, and using drones to transport arms and explosives into Indian territory. Some are also suspected of orchestrating reconnaissance missions and directing attacks on civilians and security forces.
The latest action follows a series of measures by the Centre since the UAPA was amended in 2019, allowing the government to designate not only organisations but also individual terrorists. Officials believe such designations help disrupt terror financing, freeze assets, facilitate international cooperation, and restrict the operational capabilities of those involved in cross-border terrorism.
Gujarat ATS Arrests Eight Alleged JeM Operatives
In a separate development, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested eight persons allegedly linked to the banned Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Investigators claim the group was attempting to establish a terror network in Gujarat by spreading extremist ideology, recruiting sympathisers and allegedly planning terrorist activities.
According to ATS officials, the arrests were made during a coordinated operation conducted across multiple districts of Gujarat and neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. The suspects were allegedly working on behalf of JeM to create an active support network within the state.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Ahmed Abdullah Gajiwala (19), Mudassir Abdullah Ghaziwala (22), Ibrahim Mohammad Husen Ghagha (30) from Banaskantha district; Zakariya Durani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha (21), Mufti Faujan Ismail Dauwa (40), Mohammad Amin Shera (21) from Patan district; Mohammad Abdul Rahman Savdi (22) from Navsari district; and Bilal Durani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha (18) from Madhya Pradesh.
Security agencies are examining their digital devices, financial transactions and communication records to determine the extent of the alleged network and whether they had links with handlers based across the border. Officials said the investigation is continuing to identify other associates and uncover the full scope of the alleged conspiracy.
The twin developments underscore India’s continued efforts to dismantle terror ecosystems, curb cross-border infiltration, disrupt financing networks and prevent the expansion of extremist organisations within the country.
