Centre designates 23 Pakistan-based terror operatives under UAPA
India has officially blacklisted 23 Pakistan-based individuals linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba under anti-terror laws. The move enables authorities to freeze assets and dismantle terror networks operating from across the border.
The Indian Government has formally designated 23 Pakistan-based operatives as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, marking a significant escalation in counter-terrorism efforts. The individuals are connected to major terror organisations including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), groups that have orchestrated multiple attacks on Indian soil.
Among those designated is Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, identified as a senior JeM operative with a documented history of recruiting fighters, conducting training programmes, and orchestrating terrorist strikes. Authorities have specifically linked Kashmiri to the Sunjwan military attack, a significant terror incident that targeted Indian defence personnel. The designation provides law enforcement agencies with expanded powers to investigate his networks and track associated operatives across the country.
The formal listing under the UAPA grants authorities several enforcement tools. These include the ability to freeze bank accounts and financial assets held by designated individuals, restrict their movement across international borders, and prosecute anyone providing them material support or shelter. The move also enables intelligence agencies to monitor communications and financial transactions connected to these operatives more effectively.
The impact of this designation extends beyond individual operatives. By officially recognising these 23 individuals as terrorists, India strengthens its legal framework for countering cross-border militant activities. This empowers state police forces, central intelligence agencies, and financial watchdogs to coordinate action against terror financing networks and prevent recruitment drives within Indian territories.
The designation also signals India's commitment to isolating Pakistan-based terror groups at the international level. Such moves support India's case at global forums advocating for tougher international sanctions against JeM and LeT. For residents and security agencies in high-risk regions, particularly in Kashmir and major cities, the action enhances intelligence-sharing mechanisms and enables faster preventive detention of suspected terror sympathisers.
Experts note that such designations are part of India's sustained strategy to dismantle terror infrastructure at its source. The move is expected to be followed by coordinated operations against terror sympathisers and facilitators operating within Indian borders who provide logistical and financial support to these Pakistan-based operatives.
