Pahalgam Attack: NIA Verifies Assassins are Members of Lashkar and From Pakistan
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has determined that the three terrorists involved in the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 innocent individuals, are Pakistani nationals affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The anti-terror agency has announced a significant breakthrough in its investigation of the brutal attack, stating that it has apprehended two individuals for sheltering the terrorists who targeted Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, referred to as ‘Mini Switzerland.’
The NIA stated, “The two men—Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam—have revealed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack and confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals linked to the banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).”
According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Parvaiz and Bashir knowingly sheltered three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) in Hill Park prior to the attack. The two men are accused of providing the attackers with food, shelter, and logistical support. On the day of the incident, the terrorists carried out a targeted killing of tourists based on their religious identity—making it one of the most horrific acts of terrorism in recent memory.
Both individuals have been arrested under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which deals with the offense of harboring terrorists. The NIA has confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing.
The attack, which sent shockwaves across the country, took place in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, where gunmen brutally killed 25 tourists and a local Kashmiri pony ride operator. Eyewitnesses and relatives of the victims reported that the attackers asked for their religion before executing them at close range.
The massacre, which crossed multiple red lines, triggered nationwide outrage. Two weeks later, India launched Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory mission targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). New Delhi emphasized that only terror camps were struck. Pakistan responded with a barrage of missiles and drone attacks along India’s western border, but India’s air defense systems intercepted most of them. However, intense shelling along the border and the Line of Control resulted in casualties on both sides.
In response, India carried out precision strikes on key Pakistani military installations, including several air bases. These escalations compelled Islamabad to request a ceasefire. India has since issued a stern warning: any future attack will provoke a decisive and overwhelming response.