Nearly two months after the horrific terror attack that shook Jammu and Kashmir’s picturesque Pahalgam region, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has confirmed a key breakthrough: the perpetrators were Pakistani nationals and trained operatives of the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The brazen assault in the Baisaran Valley, often dubbed “Mini Switzerland,” left 26 people dead, most of them tourists. The attack stunned the nation due to its chilling method — victims were reportedly questioned about their religion before being executed at point-blank range.
On Saturday, the NIA announced the arrest of two local residents — Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam. Both have been charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly aiding the terrorists.
According to investigators, the duo knowingly harboured the Pakistani terrorists in a seasonal hut near Hill Park in the days leading up to the massacre. “They provided food, shelter, and logistical support to the three armed terrorists, all of whom were Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives,” an official statement from the NIA confirmed.
Following the gruesome incident, the Indian government launched Operation Sindoor, a precision military operation targeting terror camps deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Indian officials stated that the strikes were limited to terror infrastructure, avoiding civilian or military installations.
Pakistan, however, retaliated using drones and missile fire, triggering a sharp military exchange between the two nations. Indian Air Defence Systems swiftly intercepted incoming threats, while Indian Air Force strikes reportedly hit multiple high-value targets, forcing Islamabad to request a ceasefire.
A top defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that any future provocation would invite a “far stronger and swifter” Indian response. Meanwhile, the NIA is continuing its probe to track additional facilitators and potential sleeper cells.
