On November 29, 2025, a special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) convicted two individuals, Mohd. Mustaqueem and Shakeel, in the Lucknow Al-Qaeda terror conspiracy case. The court sentenced both to 20 months imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 5,000 each. This case stems from the investigation into the activities of Umar Halmandi, an Al-Qaeda affiliate based at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, who was involved in the recruitment and radicalization of youth in Lucknow for terrorist acts planned before Independence Day 2021. Alongside Mustaqueem and Shakeel, another accused, Mohammad Moid, was convicted earlier in October 2025. The NIA uncovered that these accused aided in procuring weapons and ammunition to support the terror module linked to the banned outfit Ansaar Ghazwatul Hind (AGH). The convictions highlight India’s vigilant and proactive counter-terrorism efforts to thwart militant networks targeting national security. This case exemplifies the nation’s resolve to combat terror conspiracies emanating from cross-border terror handlers.