J&K Police Crack Down on US-Based Kashmiri Separatist Ghulam Nabi Fai’s Alleged Network
By: Javid Amin | 10 November 2025
Budgam police launch coordinated raids against individuals linked to US-based lobbyist Ghulam Nabi Fai, signaling a tougher stance on overseas-backed separatist funding.
In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a widespread crackdown on the alleged separatist network of US-based lobbyist Ghulam Nabi Fai, known for his long-standing ties with Pakistan-backed causes.
The operation, carried out by the Budgam Police, forms part of a broader strategy to neutralize overseas-funded terror ecosystems and dismantle digital and financial channels that sustain separatist propaganda in the Union Territory.
Who Is Ghulam Nabi Fai?
Ghulam Nabi Fai, a native of Wadwan, Budgam, has lived in the United States for several decades. He is a well-known separatist lobbyist who has frequently advocated for Kashmir’s secessionist narrative on international platforms.
Fai came under global scrutiny after his 2011 conviction in the United States for secretly receiving funds from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to lobby American lawmakers on Kashmir.
In India, he faces serious charges under:
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Sections 10, 13, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)
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Section 66 of the Information Technology Act
On April 30, 2025, the NIA Special Judge in Budgam declared Fai a proclaimed offender, intensifying the hunt for his local collaborators.
Inside the Crackdown: Raids, Seizures, and Questioning
Sources confirmed that multiple searches were conducted across Budgam and adjoining districts as part of FIR No. 46/2020, registered against Fai and his associates.
According to police officials:
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Several individuals suspected of aiding Fai’s activities were detained for questioning.
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Properties and financial assets linked to Fai’s network are under verification and attachment.
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Digital evidence including emails, encrypted chats, and funding trails are being examined.
A senior police officer told Greater Kashmir that this operation is part of the “Zero-Tolerance Policy” toward terrorism and its support structures.
“We are not just targeting those who pick up the gun, but also those who fund, incite, and facilitate terrorism from abroad,” the officer said.
From Streets to Servers: The New Focus on Digital Networks
This crackdown marks a strategic shift in counter-terrorism — focusing not only on militant handlers but also on ideological and financial facilitators operating overseas.
Investigators are mapping digital footprints that connect Fai’s US-based operations to social media campaigns, funding transfers, and intellectual propaganda aimed at radicalizing youth.
“The battle has moved online,” said a senior intelligence official. “We are tracking the online narratives that sustain separatist ideologies from safe havens abroad.”
The police are also coordinating with central agencies, including the NIA and ED, to trace foreign remittances and property investments in Kashmir allegedly linked to separatist outfits.
A Larger Pattern: Cracking the Ecosystem of Separatism
The crackdown on Fai’s network is not an isolated move — it reflects a broader campaign to disrupt transnational links that channel money and propaganda into Kashmir.
Over the past year, the J&K Police and central agencies have intensified efforts to identify individuals and NGOs that act as fronts for Pakistan-backed influence operations.
Officials believe such actions are essential to cut off ideological oxygen to extremism in the Valley.
“Separatism doesn’t just operate with guns — it thrives on ideas and funding,” noted a retired DGP. “Targeting overseas networks is key to ending its long shadow.”
Legal and Diplomatic Implications
The legal pursuit of Fai could have diplomatic implications, as Indian authorities are likely to pursue mutual legal assistance with the US to secure additional evidence or potential extradition.
India has in recent years increased pressure on foreign-based separatist elements, including those operating from the UK, US, and Canada, for allegedly spreading misinformation and funding unrest in Kashmir.
Why It Matters
The crackdown comes amid a series of recent counter-terror operations that have uncovered cross-border and transnational links.
Just days before, agencies busted a terror module spanning Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, seizing 360 kilograms of explosives and arresting several individuals with alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed links.
Officials say the simultaneous crackdown on domestic modules and overseas backers represents a holistic counter-terror strategy — tackling both the symptoms and sources of violence.
Conclusion: A New Phase in Counter-Terror Strategy
The targeting of Ghulam Nabi Fai’s network signals a new phase in Jammu and Kashmir’s counter-terrorism doctrine — one that goes beyond militant encounters to root out financial, digital, and ideological enablers.
While investigations continue, security experts view this as a long-overdue move to dismantle proxy networks that have operated under the guise of activism and advocacy abroad.
For Kashmir’s security apparatus, the message is clear: those who fund or fuel separatism — wherever they reside — will no longer remain untouchable.
