India Designates 23 Pakistan-Based JeM and LeT Operatives as Terrorists Under UAPA

India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has designated 23 Pakistan-based individuals as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), according to official government notifications. The individuals are linked to the terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), with the government citing their involvement in coordinating attacks and providing support for operations in Jammu and Kashmir, as reported by The Hindu and The Indian Express.

Who are the individuals designated as terrorists?

The MHA’s list includes 23 operatives based in Pakistan. According to reports from The Times of India and Hindustan Times, these individuals are affiliated with two primary militant groups: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The government identified these persons based on their roles in planning, financing, and executing terror activities directed at India.

The Indian Express reported that the MHA specifically cited links between these operatives and recent attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. The designation allows Indian authorities to freeze assets and restrict the travel and financial transactions of these individuals under the legal framework of the UAPA.

How does the UAPA designation work?

Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the central government can designate an individual as a terrorist if it believes they are involved in terrorism. This power was expanded through a 2019 amendment to the UAPA, which shifted the authority to designate individuals from a judicial or committee-based process to the central government, according to legal context provided by The Hindu.

Once designated, the individuals are subject to strict legal sanctions. This includes the seizure of any properties or funds held within Indian jurisdiction and a legal prohibition on any Indian citizen or entity providing them with financial or material support.

What is the connection to JeM and LeT?

The MHA linked the 23 individuals to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, two organizations India has long accused of sponsoring cross-border terrorism. According to The New Indian Express, the government’s move is part of a broader strategy to dismantle the support networks of these groups. The reports indicate that these operatives provide the logistical and operational backbone for militants infiltrating the Line of Control (LoC).

While the specific names of all 23 individuals were detailed in the government’s official gazette, news outlets such as The Times of India emphasize that the designation targets the “leadership and operational cadres” responsible for directing attacks from Pakistani soil.

Why did the MHA take this action now?

The timing of the designation follows a series of security challenges in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Express reported that the government specifically linked these operatives to the coordination of attacks in the region. By naming these individuals, the MHA aims to increase diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to crack down on the infrastructure of JeM and LeT.

This action mirrors previous designations where India has used the UAPA to target foreign nationals to signal a zero-tolerance policy toward cross-border militancy, as noted in reporting by The Hindu.

The Pakistani government has not issued a formal response to this specific list of 23 designations.