The Central Government has intensified its crackdown on cross-border terrorism by making 23 people terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967. The move, announced on a gazette notification by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), is an attempt to disrupt terror networks that recruit, fund, train the terrorists, supply arms and conduct operations against India.
The designations have been made under Section 35 of the UAPA, which allows the Centre to declare individuals as terrorists based on their involvement in terrorist activities. The Home Ministry has shown that the listed individuals are associated with Pakistan-based terror organisations, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which have been responsible for several major attacks in India.
The government said the designated individuals have played key roles in planning and coordinating terror operations, facilitating infiltration across the border, recruiting operatives, managing training camps and providing logistical as well as financial support to terrorist organisations.
Among those named is Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, a Jaish-e-Mohammed operative involved in the 2022 attack on the Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmiri was one of the Pakistan-based JeM operatives mentioned in the chargesheet for the Sunjwan conspiracy, according to National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials. The attack was planned to disrupt the Prime Minister's visit to Jammu.
Another JeM operative, Mohammad Mussadiq, has also been linked to the Sunjwan attack. According to the NIA investigation, Pakistan-based handlers led the infiltration of terrorists in a cross-border tunnel and directed the operation from across the border.
The Home Ministry also named Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan, who has been identified in NIA investigations as a Pakistan-based JeM launching commander. Police say he kept in touch with individuals involved in the 2016 Nagrota Army camp attack and played a role in the infiltration into Jammu.
Hafiz Abdul Shakoor, also known as Qari Zarar, has been named as a Pakistan-based JeM launching commander. He had spoken with local facilitators before the Nagrota attack and helped coordinate terrorist activities, investigators said.
Abdullah Jehadi, another person, has been accused of aiding JeM terrorists involved in the 2016 Nagrota attack and of hosting several training camps for JeM terrorists from the organisation.
The notification also includes some Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives. Firdous Ahmad Bhat has been identified as a LeT launching commander who is believed to be involved in infiltration and logistical support of terrorist activity.
Bilal Ahmad Mir, who is associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and proxy group The Resistance Front (TRF), is also accused of coordinating cross-border terrorist operations and arranging the supply of arms into India.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is India's main anti-terror law and allows the authorities to take legal action against individuals and organisations involved in activities threatening the country's sovereignty and security. A major amendment to the law was made in August 2019 and allowed the Central Government to declare individuals—not just organisations—as terrorists. The amendment was done as part of a larger strategy to curb terror financing, recruitment and operational planning in India.
The recent action comes as India continues to pursue zero tolerance towards terrorism and is focused on dismantling terror ecosystems through intelligence-led operations, stronger legal measures and better international cooperation.
In the same year, the government unveiled India's first comprehensive National Counter Terrorism Policy and Strategy (PRAHAAR), which marks a major change in the country's security doctrine. It declares that India has been fighting terrorism for decades and says terrorism cannot be associated with any religion, caste or nationality.
The PRAHAAR framework aims to improve national preparedness to face terror threats by better coordination among security agencies, better intelligence sharing, robust legal frameworks and greater international cooperation. It also lays out a strategy to prevent, respond to and investigate terrorist activities while strengthening India’s commitment to combating cross-border terrorism.
The Centre has also strengthened its legal framework against those who support terrorist organisations and is now on the way to dealing with terror networks that are compromising India’s national security.
