Centre designates 23 Pakistan-based individuals linked to JeM, LeT as ‘terrorists’ under UAPA

1. The Central government on Saturday designated 23 individuals as terrorists under the UAPA. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification in this regard on July 4, 2026. The notification includes the names of several Pakistan-based terrorists linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The Home Ministry said the individuals were allegedly involved in terror recruitment, infiltration, training, supply of arms through drones, and planning of attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

Among the 23 individuals, three are alleged close associates of LeT founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, three were allegedly involved in the 2016 terror attack on an Army camp in Nagrota, and two were allegedly involved in the 2018 terror attack on Sunjwan Military Station.

The Home Ministry in the notification identified Saeed’s close associates as Abdul Rauf, Hafiz Khalid Waleed and Rana Iftikhar. “Rana Iftikhar, 54, coordinates among anti-Jihadi organisations, motivates youths to carry out terrorist activities and is a close associate of Hafiz Saeed. Abdul Rauf, 52, who belongs to LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa, is involved in planning and coordinating terrorist activities, collecting funds and is one of the main terrorists in LeT under the direct command of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed,” the Home Ministry said.