Pahalgam Terror Attack Investigation: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday confirmed it has compiled substantial evidence relating to the identities of the terrorists involved in the deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA, in its statement, added that further details will be made public “at an appropriate time.”
What do we know about the arrested people?
The Pahalgam terror attack had claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists. Following a deep probe, the NIA arrested two locals, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, for sheltering three Pakistani terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The two accused were produced before a Jammu court and remanded to five days of NIA custody for further interrogation.
“Parvaiz and Bashir knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal hut at Hill Park before the attack,” NIA said, describing this as one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks ever witnessed in the region.
Evidence being analysed
The NIA said its substantial body of evidence including eyewitness accounts, video footage, technical data, and police sketches is under careful analysis. However, officials clarified that they have not reached any final conclusions as yet.
Some reports in the media and on social platforms were termed “speculative” and “misleading” by the NIA. The agency reiterated that it will release accurate details once all facts have been verified.
Broader implications and next steps
A Jammu court granted the NIA five days’ custody of the two accused men for further questioning. According to the NIA, the men have already disclosed the identities of the three Pakistani terrorists involved.
Earlier, BJP leader Shazia Ilmi emphasized the scale of the conspiracy. “Just after Operation Sindoor, all our agencies, especially the NIA, have been working hard to uncover the truth. It is scandalous that such an attack was carried out,” she noted.
The NIA confirmed that Parvaiz and Bashir had provided food, shelter, and logistical support to the terrorists, who “selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity.” The next hearing is scheduled for June 27, 2025, and further revelations about logistics, intelligence links, and complicity are expected.
With 26 people losing their lives, the Pahalgam terror attack is considered one of the deadliest in recent memory. Investigators say the two men had ties to Pakistani operatives and continue to interrogate them in order to identify further co-conspirators.