After exchange of cordial letters between Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi desiring better ties, India sent a strong message to Islamabad that it continued to harbour terrorists on its soil and talks may not be possible unless something was done to dismantle its "terror factory". 

The designation of seven Pakistan-based terrorists under India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for terror funding and strikes in Jammu and Kashmir.was to tell the global community and the Financial Task Action Force (FATF) that the "terror factory targeting India is still thriving in Pakistan," the Hindustan Times said.

According to the paper, the seven terrorists banned under the UAPA are all based in Pakistan. They are: Sajjad Gul, Ashiq Ahmed Nengroo, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar aka Latram, Arjumand Gulzar Jan aka Hamza Burhan, Ali Kashif Jan, Mohiuddin Aurangzeb Alamgir and Hafiz Talha Saeed. A total of 38 Pakistan-based terrorists have been banned under the UAPA by the MHA.

According to home ministry sources quoted by Hindustan Times, the reason for preparing a database of Pakistan-based terrorists operating in the Valley is manifold. First, a ready-made dossier is being prepared on all these terrorists so that India can take up the issue with the UN and relevant countries. Two, associates of these designated terrorists will now feel the heat in the Valley as they would be targeted for supporting Pakistan jihadi groups and hence come under the strict scrutiny of law. Third, the properties acquired by these terrorists and their associates will be seized if they are found linked to terror funding or proceeds of crime.

Four, the data bank will be useful to show the (FATF) that Pakistan continues to provide shelter and support to anti-India jihadists operating in Kashmir and the hinterland. With Pakistan already facing an economic crisis partly due to its designation in the FATF grey list, the list will convince the FATF plenary meeting in Paris this June that the country continues to be the hotbed of Islamic jihad against India. 

India will also share the dossier on these designated UAPA terrorists with Interpol and like-minded countries like US, France, UAE and Israel so that action can be taken against these jihadists, officials said.

(SAM)