India Designates 23 JeM and LeT Operatives as Terrorists

On 4 July 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs designated 23 Pakistan-based operatives linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The designation was made under Section 35 of the Act, which allows the Central Government to add names to the Fourth Schedule of the UAPA.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is India’s principal anti-terror law and provides for the designation of individuals and organisations involved in unlawful activities. Section 35 of the Act deals with the listing of individuals as terrorists, while the Fourth Schedule contains the names of such persons.

Groups and operatives named in the list

The list includes operatives associated with JeM and LeT, both of which are Pakistan-based terrorist organisations active in Jammu and Kashmir. Among the named persons are Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, Mohammad Mussadiq alias Doctor, and Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan alias Abu Saad from JeM, along with Abdul Rauf, Hafiz Khalid Waleed, and Rana Iftikhar linked to LeT. Masood Ilyas Kashmiri is based in Rawalkot in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Mohammad Mussadiq alias Doctor is linked to infiltration operations and drone-based arms supply across the border. Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan alias Abu Saad is linked to the 29 November 2016 attack on an Indian Army camp in Nagrota, Jammu.

Alleged activities and legal consequences

The designated operatives are accused of terror recruitment, infiltration, training, arms supply through drones, terror financing, logistical support, and planning attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. The designation allows agencies such as the National Investigation Agency to freeze assets, block funding channels, restrict access to arms, and initiate seizure of properties.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 is the main Indian law used for counter-terrorism cases.
• Section 35 of the UAPA permits the Central Government to add names to the Fourth Schedule.
• The Fourth Schedule of the UAPA contains the list of designated individual terrorists.
• With this addition, the total number of designated individual terrorists under the UAPA has reached 80.

Distribution of the designated persons

Out of the 23 designated individuals, 11 are originally from Jammu and Kashmir, including seven currently in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and four in Pakistan. The remaining designated persons are Pakistani nationals.