Operative behind recce of Ram temple and RSS HQ, Hafiz Saeed's relative in designated terrorist list

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs designated 23 individuals based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir as terrorists under Section 35 of the ...

What Happened

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs designated 23 individuals based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir as terrorists under Section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
The designees include operatives linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), involved in activities such as infiltration, recruitment, logistics, financing, and operational planning targeting India.
Among those designated is an LeT operative who conducted reconnaissance of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, and Hafiz Khalid Waleed — son-in-law of LeT founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed — identified as a member of LeT's Central Advisory Committee since 2003 and the mastermind behind the June 2016 Pampore attack.
Six of the 23 individuals are Indian nationals currently operating from Pakistan or PoJK.
With this designation, a total of 57 individuals have now been listed as individual terrorists under UAPA's Fourth Schedule since the 2019 amendment.

Static Topic Bridges

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 — Individual Terrorist Designation

Originally enacted to deal with secessionist organisations, UAPA was substantially amended in 2019 to empower the Central Government to designate individuals (not just organisations) as terrorists. Before 2019, only organisations could be banned under UAPA; the amendment inserted the individual-designation power under Section 35, adding individuals to the Fourth Schedule of the Act. A designated terrorist's passport can be invalidated, assets frozen, and movements restricted.

Enacted: 1967; major amendments in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2019
Section 35: Empowers the Central Government to amend the Fourth Schedule (designated terrorist individuals)
Section 36: Provides a Review Committee mechanism for designated persons to appeal
The 2019 Amendment also gave NIA (National Investigation Agency) the power to investigate cases involving designated individuals
Assets of designated terrorists can be attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002

Connection to this news: The MHA invoked Section 35 to add all 23 individuals to the Fourth Schedule, enabling asset freezing and international coordination to disrupt their financing and logistics networks.

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) — Terror Organisations

LeT was founded by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed in 1990 in Afghanistan's Kunar province, originally mobilising anti-Soviet jihadists. It is the armed wing of Markaz-ud-Dawa-wal-Irshad (MDI); its political front, Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), was formed after international pressure. LeT was designated a terrorist organisation by the UN Security Council (UNSC 1267/1989 Committee) in May 2005, and by India, the US, the UK, the EU, and Australia. JeM, founded by Maulana Masood Azhar, claimed responsibility for the 2016 Pathankot and 2019 Pulwama attacks.

LeT designated by US as Foreign Terrorist Organization: December 2001
LeT added to UN 1267 sanctions list: May 2005
JuD declared an LeT front by UN: December 2008
JeM designated by UN Security Council: 2001 (UN Resolution 1267)
Both organisations are proscribed under India's UAPA Schedule I (banned organisations)

Connection to this news: The 23 newly designated individuals are linked to both LeT and JeM networks, spanning senior leaders, associates of LeT and JeM founders, launching commanders, recruiters, and financial coordinators — underscoring Pakistan's continued tolerance of these networks.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Counter-Terror Architecture

The NIA was established under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, as India's premier federal counter-terrorism agency. It has concurrent jurisdiction across states and can suo motu investigate scheduled offences (including UAPA cases) without state consent. The Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND) under the Ministry of Finance and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under PMLA work in conjunction with NIA to disrupt terror financing.

NIA Act enacted: 2008; NIA headquartered in New Delhi
NIA can take cognizance of offences under UAPA, the Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act, and more
2019 NIA Amendment Act: Extended NIA's mandate to include cyber-terrorism, human trafficking, and offences outside India against Indian citizens
Terror financing falls under PMLA, 2002 and the UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) framework

Connection to this news: The UAPA designation enables NIA to track, investigate, and build cases against the newly designated individuals, while enabling international asset-freeze coordination under UN Resolution 1267.

Key Facts & Data

23 individuals designated as terrorists under UAPA Section 35 on July 4, 2026
Total individual terrorists on UAPA Fourth Schedule (post this designation): 57
Hafiz Khalid Waleed: LeT Central Advisory Committee member since 2003; US-designated global terrorist since August 2012; linked to June 2016 Pampore attack
LeT founded: 1990 by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed
LeT added to UN 1267 sanctions list: May 2005
JuD declared LeT front by UN: December 2008
UAPA first enacted: 1967; individual designation power added by 2019 amendment
NIA established: 2008 under NIA Act