New Delhi/Srinagar: In a major breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday arrested two Kashmiri men accused of aiding Pakistani terrorists involved in the brutal Pahalgam attack that left 26 people dead, including tourists and locals.
The arrested individuals, identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, are alleged to have harboured at least three heavily armed terrorists from Pakistan affiliated with the proscribed terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). According to NIA officials, the duo provided food, shelter, and logistical support to the attackers at a remote seasonal hut (dhok) in Hill Park, Pahalgam, days before the massacre.
In a chilling revelation, the agency stated that the terrorists had “selectively killed” tourists based on religious identity during the April 22 attack at Baisaran meadows, a popular tourist site in Jammu and Kashmir. Among the 26 victims were 24 Indian tourists, one local Kashmiri, and one Nepalese national, many shot at close range in front of their families.
NIA investigations have now confirmed the attackers were Pakistani nationals linked to LeT, with the arrested men reportedly helping identify the perpetrators.
The original FIR was registered by Jammu and Kashmir Police but was later transferred to NIA on the direction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The NIA swung into action immediately, deploying a senior team led by an Inspector General of Police (IG) to oversee the probe.
The attack triggered a swift Indian military response under ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, which included precision airstrikes on terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Key targets reportedly included Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and LeT headquarters. In response, Pakistan attempted to strike Indian military and civilian assets, prompting further retaliation from India. The standoff de-escalated following a mutual ceasefire understanding on May 10.
The arrest of Parvaiz and Bashir marks a significant step in unraveling the terror network operating across the border, with NIA vowing to track down every link in the chain.
