Centre designates 23 Pakistan-based operatives linked to JeM, LeT as terrorists under UAPA - full list

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a gazette notification on July 4, 2026, designating 23 individuals as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Pre...

What Happened

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a gazette notification on July 4, 2026, designating 23 individuals as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).
All 23 individuals are based in Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK); among them, 17 are Pakistani nationals and 6 are Indian nationals operating from Pakistani territory.
The designated individuals are linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — both banned organisations under the UAPA and designated by the United Nations Security Council.
The operatives were allegedly involved in activities including terrorist recruitment, infiltration across the Line of Control, drone-based arms smuggling, financing, and planning attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
With this notification, the total number of individuals formally designated as terrorists under UAPA has risen to 80.

Static Topic Bridges

UAPA 1967 and the 2019 Amendment: Individual Terrorist Designation

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 is India's primary counter-terrorism and anti-secession legislation. It was originally designed to deal with unlawful organisations; successive amendments broadened its scope to cover terrorist organisations and, after 2019, individuals.

Original UAPA (1967): Focused on unlawful activities undermining India's sovereignty and territorial integrity; empowered the government to ban organisations.
2008 Amendment: Incorporated anti-terrorism provisions following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks; introduced stricter bail conditions and extended detention periods.
2019 Amendment: The most consequential change — inserted Section 35 into Chapter VI, empowering the Central Government to designate individuals as terrorists and list them in the Fourth Schedule of the Act. Previously, only organisations could be designated.
Grounds for individual designation: same as for organisations — involvement in terrorist acts, preparation of terrorist acts, promotion or financing of terrorism, or association with a designated terrorist organisation.
Effect of designation: enables agencies to freeze assets, restrict movement, cancel passports, and impose financial sanctions on the individual. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is the primary investigating authority.
Review: A designated individual may apply to a Review Committee (chaired by a retired High Court judge) for de-listing.

Connection to this news: The designation of 23 JeM and LeT operatives invokes Section 35 (inserted by the 2019 amendment), placing them on the Fourth Schedule and enabling MHA and NIA to take enforcement action against their assets and networks.

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT): Origins and Threat Profile

JeM and LeT are Pakistan-based terrorist organisations that have been responsible for major attacks on Indian soil. Both are banned under the UAPA's First Schedule and designated by the UN Security Council under Resolution 1267 (Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Committee).

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM): Founded in 2000 by Masood Azhar following his release from Indian custody in exchange for hostages during the IC-814 hijacking (1999). Primary objective: separation of Jammu and Kashmir from India. Major attacks attributed to JeM include the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack.
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT): Founded in the 1980s as the armed wing of Markaz-ud-Dawa-wal-Irshad. Responsible for the November 2008 Mumbai attacks (26/11) that killed approximately 164 people. The organisation operates from Pakistan and PoJK, and is a UN-designated terrorist entity.
Both organisations have been banned in Pakistan on paper but continue to operate through front organisations and renamed entities.
Both are listed under the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee (UNSCR 1267/1988/2253), imposing assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo on listed individuals and entities.

Connection to this news: The 23 newly designated individuals are operatives of these two organisations — persons who were evading direct enforcement because individual designation was not possible before 2019. The notification enables targeted action without requiring the entire organisation to be newly proscribed.

National Investigation Agency (NIA): Role and Jurisdiction

The NIA was established under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, as a central counter-terrorism agency with jurisdiction across the country — without requiring referral from state police.

NIA has jurisdiction over scheduled offences under eight central laws including UAPA, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities Act.
The 2019 UAPA amendment specifically empowered NIA officers of the rank of Inspector or above (previously DSP/ACP and above was the threshold) to investigate UAPA cases — expanding the agency's operational capacity.
Under UAPA, an NIA officer may seize property connected to terrorism with the approval of the Director General of NIA (for state police, approval from the DGP is required).
NIA operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and coordinates with state police, IB, RAW, and international agencies for cross-border terrorism cases.

Connection to this news: The MHA notification empowers NIA to act against the 23 designated individuals' assets and networks both domestically and through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) channels.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Counter-Terror Financing

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental body that sets global standards for anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF). It maintains a "Grey List" (Enhanced Monitoring) and "Black List" (Call for Action) for non-compliant jurisdictions. Pakistan was on the FATF Grey List from 2018 to 2022.

FATF Recommendation 6 requires countries to implement targeted financial sanctions against UN-designated terrorists and terrorist organisations without delay.
India's individual designation mechanism under the 2019 UAPA amendment aligns with FATF standards by enabling domestic enforcement action against internationally proscribed persons.
Designating individuals domestically allows India to freeze assets held within India belonging to operatives listed under FATF-compliant UN sanctions.

Connection to this news: Designating Pakistan-based JeM and LeT operatives under UAPA is also a FATF-compliant measure, ensuring India can take domestic enforcement action against internationally sanctioned terrorist financiers and recruiters.

Key Facts & Data

Date of designation: July 4, 2026 (gazette notification by MHA)
Number designated in this batch: 23 (17 Pakistani nationals, 6 Indian nationals based in Pakistan/PoJK)
Total individual terrorists designated under UAPA to date: 80
Relevant UAPA provisions: Section 35 (individual designation), Fourth Schedule (list of designated terrorists)
2019 UAPA Amendment: passed by Parliament in August 2019
JeM founded: 2000, by Masood Azhar (after IC-814 hijacking exchange, December 1999)
LeT founded: 1980s, as armed wing of Markaz-ud-Dawa-wal-Irshad
26/11 Mumbai attacks: November 2008 — attributed to LeT, killed approximately 164 people
2019 Pulwama attack: February 14, 2019 — attributed to JeM
UN designation framework: UNSC Resolution 1267 (1999) and successor resolutions (1988/2253)
NIA established: 2008 (NIA Act, 2008), under Ministry of Home Affairs
Pakistan on FATF Grey List: 2018–2022 (removed after compliance measures)