mha-designates-23-pak-based-terrorists-11-from-j-k

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has designated 23 Pakistan-based operatives associated with terror outfits, including Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as individual terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), citing their direct involvement in terror-related activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

The Centre issued three separate notifications designating the individuals for their alleged involvement in several anti-national activities, including recruiting youth, facilitating cross-border infiltration, terror financing, arms smuggling, and providing logistical support to terror networks.

 

Of the 23 designated operatives, 11 are natives of Jammu and Kashmir, while the remaining are Pakistani nationals. Seven of the J&K natives are currently based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and four are residing in Pakistan, according to the MHA.

The seven J&K natives based in PoK have been identified as Masood Ilyas Kashmir (Rawalakot), Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan (Abbaspur), Hafiz Abdul Shakoor (Kotli), Abdullah Jehadi (Kundalshahi, Neelum), Ghulam Fareed (Bading, Bimber), Bilal Ahmad Mir of Sopore (Muzaffarabad), and Abid Qayoom Lone of Baramulla (PoK).

The four other J&K natives currently residing in Pakistan are Haroon Rashid Ganai of Anantnag, Nazir Ahmed Gujjar of Doda, Owais Farooz Mir of Pulwama, and Mohammed Shaheed Faisal, originally from Bengaluru, who is now based in Rawalpindi, the notifications said.

 

With the latest additions, the total number of individuals designated as terrorists under the UAPA has risen to 80. Among those named are three senior Jaish-e-Mohammad functionaries with direct connections to terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

The MHA said the move was aimed at disrupting cross-border terror networks and holding key Pakistan-based handlers accountable for their role in orchestrating violence, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

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