Amit Shah designates 23 terrorists under UAPA, 17 are Pakistan-based
Synopsis
In one of the largest single-day batches under the UAPA's individual-designation provision, the Centre has named 23 terror functionaries as terrorists — 17 Pakistani nationals and 6 Indians, all operating from Pakistan or PoJK. The move targets financial networks, recruitment pipelines, and infiltration routes, and brings the total UAPA-designated individual count to 57 since the 2019 amendment.
Key Takeaways
Home Minister Amit Shah approved the designation of 23 individuals as terrorists under the UAPA on 4 July .
17 of the designated individuals are Pakistani nationals ; 6 are Indian nationals — all reportedly operating from Pakistan or Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir .
Masood Ilyas Kashmiri , a Jaish-e-Mohammed operative and close aide of Maulana Masood Azhar , is among those designated.
The total number of individuals designated as terrorists under Section 35 of the UAPA has risen to 57 since the 2019 amendment.
The designations aim to disrupt terror financing, recruitment, border infiltration, and coordination with banned organisations.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the designation of 23 individuals — including 17 Pakistani nationals and six Indian nationals — as 'terrorists' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Saturday, 4 July. All 23 individuals are currently reported to be operating from Pakistan or Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Key Designations
Among those designated is Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, also known as Mufti Masood Ilyas or Abu Mohammad, a Pakistani national affiliated with the banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). According to the official statement, he is a close associate of JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar and serves as a key coordinator for infiltration into Kashmir. He is also accused of recruiting youth through social media, raising funds for terrorism, and orchestrating an attack on a police checkpoint near the Peoples Democratic Party office in Jammu's Sunjwan in April 2022.
Others on the list include Mohammad Musadiq, Mufti Mohammad Asghar Khan, Hafiz Abdul Shakoor, Abdullah Jihadi, Firdous Ahmed Bhat, Ghulam Farid, Haroon Rashid Ganai, Bilal Ahmed Mir, Abid Qayoom Lone, Nazir Ahmed Gujjar, Abdul Rauf, Ashfaq Ahmed, Hafiz Khalid Walid, Maulana Imdad Ullah Makki, Maulana Saifullah Khalid, and Mohammad Yaqoob.
What the Government Said
In a post on social media platform X, Home Minister Shah stated: 'Pursuing Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji's vision of zero tolerance against terror: the MHA today declared 23 dreaded terror functionaries affiliated with banned organisations as terrorists under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.'
Shah further noted that the designated individuals are involved in a range of activities including carrying out terror attacks, inciting violence, arms trafficking, border infiltration, facilitating terrorist organisations, raising funds, and recruiting cadres.
Legal Framework and Impact
The designations were made under Section 35 of the UAPA, following the 2019 amendment to the Act that empowered the Centre to designate individuals — not just organisations — as terrorists. With these 23 additions, the total number of individuals designated as terrorists under the Act has reached 57.
According to the official statement, the formal designation is intended to curb the financial networks, movements, recruitment capabilities, and terror-linked activities of those named. It is also expected to enhance coordination among security and law enforcement agencies at both national and international levels.
Broader Context
This is one of the largest single-day batches of individual terrorist designations since the UAPA amendment came into force. The move comes amid sustained pressure on cross-border terror networks and follows a series of security operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Notably, the fact that six Indian nationals figure in the list — all reportedly operating from Pakistani soil — underscores what officials describe as the transnational dimension of the threat. The Centre has repeatedly stated that dismantling terror financing and recruitment pipelines is central to its counter-terrorism strategy.
Security analysts are expected to watch whether the designations trigger coordinated action with international partners, particularly under Financial Action Task Force (FATF) frameworks that track terror financing.
Point of View
Introduced in 2019, was designed precisely for this scenario, but its deterrent value depends on whether the financial and travel restrictions that follow are actually enforced internationally. With FATF watch cycles ongoing and India's bilateral pressure on Pakistan under sustained diplomatic strain, the real test of these 23 designations is not the announcement — it is the coordinated legal follow-through.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been designated as a terrorist under UAPA on 4 July?
Home Minister Amit Shah approved the designation of 23 individuals as terrorists under the UAPA on 4 July — 17 Pakistani nationals and 6 Indian nationals, all reportedly operating from Pakistan or Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, a Jaish-e-Mohammed operative, is the most prominent name on the list.
What is the UAPA individual terrorist designation and when was it introduced?
The UAPA's individual terrorist designation provision was introduced through a 2019 amendment to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, under Section 35. It allows the Centre to designate specific individuals — not just organisations — as terrorists, enabling restrictions on their finances, movement, and activities. A total of 57 individuals have now been designated since the amendment.
Who is Masood Ilyas Kashmiri?
Masood Ilyas Kashmiri is a Pakistani national affiliated with the banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and a close associate of JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar. According to official statements, he coordinates infiltration into Kashmir, recruits youth via social media, raises funds for terrorism, and is accused of orchestrating an attack on a police checkpoint in Jammu's Sunjwan in April 2022.
What are the practical consequences of being designated a terrorist under UAPA?
A UAPA terrorist designation enables Indian security and law enforcement agencies to initiate coordinated legal, investigative, and preventive actions against the individual. It is designed to curb their financial networks, restrict movement, disrupt recruitment, and facilitate international cooperation — including under frameworks such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Why are six Indian nationals on the list if the focus is Pakistan-based terror?
According to the official statement, all six Indian nationals on the list are currently operating their terrorist activities from Pakistan or Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Their inclusion signals that the cross-border terror network involves Indian citizens who have moved to adversarial territory, highlighting what officials describe as the transnational dimension of the threat.
