India lists 23 Pakistan-based individuals as terrorists; includes Ram temple recce operative

The Union Home Ministry on Saturday designated 23 individuals based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The move aims to disrupt the network of operatives involved in infiltration, recruitment, logistics, financing, and operational planning against India.

Six of the designated individuals are Indian nationals now residing in Pakistan or PoJK. The list includes senior leaders and associates of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) founder Maulana Masood Azhar, as well as launching commanders, recruiters, and financial coordinators primarily linked to JeM and LeT.

Among those named is Mohammad Musaddiq, a Pakistani JeM operative also known as Doctor and Abdul Mannan. The Ministry said he conducted reconnaissance of the Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur, and the IOCL refinery in Panipat. He serves as a launching commander for the Lasiyakot sector and facilitates infiltration through tunnels and drones.

Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, a Pakistani national and close associate of Masood Azhar, was designated for coordinating infiltration into Kashmir, recruiting youths via social media, raising funds, and orchestrating the April 2022 attack on a police checkpoint near the PDP office in Sunjwan, Jammu.

Mufti Mohammad Asghar Khan, also known as Abu Saad, is identified as JeM's Amir and head of its military wing in PoJK. The Ministry accused him of being a key conspirator in the attack on the Indian Army camp in Nagrota and running training camps in Muzaffarabad.

Hafiz Abdul Shakoor, alias Qari Jarrar, affiliated with JeM and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, is accused of facilitating the infiltration of three Pakistani terrorists for the Nagrota attack. He allegedly fought in the Afghan war during 1995-96, coordinates with the ISI, and serves on JeM's governing Shura.

Abdullah Jihadi, a JeM operative, is alleged to have co-conspired with Mufti Asghar Khan, facilitated infiltration into North Kashmir, attempted to incite hatred against the Government of India, and managed launching camps in Kupwara and Baramulla.

Indian national Firdous Ahmad Bhat, associated with LeT, crossed into Pakistan in 2018 and serves as a launching commander, facilitating infiltration and supplying weapons to overground workers. Ghulam Farid, a Pakistani JeM operative who served in the Pakistan Army from 2001 to 2005, illegally entered India in 2008, was deported in 2019, and is now designated. Haroon Rashid Ganai, an Indian national based in Pakistan and affiliated with LeT, allegedly recruits from Kashmir and supplies arms.

Bilal Ahmad Mir, an Indian national in Muzaffarabad linked to LeT and The Resistance Front (TRF), is accused of inciting Kashmiri youth and managing arms supply chains. Abid Qayoom Lone, another Indian national residing in Pakistan, is among those designated.

The designations under the UAPA's fourth schedule allow for freezing of assets, prohibition of association, and other legal measures against the individuals.