India designates 23 Pakistan based individuals as terrorists

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New Delhi, July 4

India has designated 23 Pakistan-based individuals as “terrorists” under the country’s anti-terror law, expanding a list that now includes 80 people. The Union Home Ministry said the move was made under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which allows the government to designate individuals it believes are involved in terrorism. Most of those newly listed are alleged to be linked to the banned militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The government said some of them were also involved in attacks targeting security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Among those added are JeM members Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, Mohammad Mussadiq, also known as “Doctor”, Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan, Hafiz Abdul Shakoor, Abdullah Jehadi, Ghulam Fareed, Maulana Imdad Ullah Makki and Waseem Noor Jat.

The list also includes LeT-linked individuals such as Firdous Ahmad Bhat, Haroon Rashid Ganai, Bilal Ahmad Mir, Abid Quyoom Lone, Nazir Ahmed Gujjar, Abdul Rauf, Ashfaq Ahmad, Hafiz Khalid Waleed, Maulana Saifullah Khalid, Mohammad Yaqoob, Molana Yousaf Taibi, Owais Farooz, Qari Yaqub Sheikh, Rana Iftikhar and Mohammed Shaheed Faisal, whom the government said also had links to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

The UAPA was amended in 2019 to allow the government to designate individuals as terrorists. Before the change, only organisations could be included in the list.

Officials say the designation enables investigative agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), to freeze financial assets, restrict access to funding, impose arms-related sanctions and initiate the seizure of property linked to those named.

Pakistan has previously rejected Indian allegations of supporting militant groups operating across the border. There was no immediate response from Pakistani authorities to Saturday’s announcement.

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