New Delhi: Nearly two months after the brutal terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has confirmed the three gunmen behind the massacre were Pakistani nationals, and trained Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives.
The NIA, which is leading the probe, also announced the arrest of two Pahalgam residents who allegedly gave the attackers food, shelter and logistical help before the killings.
Locals Sheltered the Killers in a Remote Hill Hut
According to the NIA, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam, had “knowingly harboured” the terrorists at a seasonal hut in Hill Park just days before the attack.
The two men, now arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, told the agency that the three terrorists were Pakistani nationals and affiliated with the proscribed group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
“Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists… They provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, who had, on the fateful afternoon, selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity,” the NIA said in a statement.
The attack at Baisaran Valley, often called “Mini Switzerland” for its scenic beauty, was one of the worst in recent memory. Survivors said the gunmen asked victims about their religion before executing them at close range.
Operation Sindoor
The attack that claimed 26 lives, 25 of whom were tourists, and one a local pony ride operator, sent shockwaves across the country.
In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, a targeted strike on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. New Delhi clarified that only terror infrastructure was hit. Pakistan retaliated with missiles and drones, prompting India’s air defences to swing into action.
What followed was a fierce military exchange, ending only after Indian strikes hit key military bases in Pakistan and Islamabad requested a ceasefire. India has since warned that any future attack will be met with a response “far stronger” than before.
