In a major advance in the investigation into the brutal Pahalgam terror attack, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two locals accused of harbouring the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants responsible for the April 22 massacre that left 26 innocent tourists dead and 16 others severely wounded.
The two men, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, both residents of the Pahalgam area were taken into custody following a series of intelligence inputs and interrogation leads. According to the NIA, the pair knowingly provided food, shelter, and logistical assistance to the three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists in a remote seasonal hut locally known as dhok, nestled in Hill Park’s forested slopes.
Terrorists Sheltered Just Days Before the Attack
Investigations reveal that the terrorists stayed at the dhok in the days leading up to the attack, using it as a safehouse to plan and prepare. The duo not only concealed the presence of the militants but also ensured they remained undetected in the sensitive tourist zone.
On April 22, the attackers descended on Baisaran Valley, often called the ‘Mini Switzerland of Kashmir’ and opened fire on unarmed civilians, reportedly targeting them based on religious identity. The shocking nature of the violence and its symbolic setting sent ripples across the country and drew international condemnation.
The NIA has booked Parvaiz and Bashir under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, which deals with providing support to terrorist organizations. Officials said their custodial interrogation has been crucial in identifying the assailants, all of whom have now been confirmed as Pakistani nationals affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Mastermind Behind Pahalgam Attack
This breakthrough comes close on the heels of a Times of India investigation that identified Sulaiman, a former Pakistani Army special forces commando-turned-LeT trainer, as the alleged mastermind behind the attack. The report claims that Sulaiman infiltrated India in 2022 and operated covertly for nearly two years, coordinating multiple terror activities in the Valley. His name has also surfaced in connection with the deadly 2023 Poonch Army truck ambush that killed five Indian soldiers.
According to officials, Sulaiman’s identification has been a turning point in the case, linking the April massacre to a larger web of cross-border planning and infiltration. His involvement, along with the latest arrests, points to a meticulously executed terror plot with deep logistical roots inside Kashmir.
NIA Expands Scope of Investigation
The arrests have been made under case RC-02/2025/NIA/JMU, registered after the April 22 attack. With local collaborators now in custody and the identities of the foreign attackers confirmed, investigators believe they are closing in on the entire operational network that enabled the attack- from sleeper cells to cross-border handlers.
Search operations have been intensified in South Kashmir, and intelligence agencies are now focused on uncovering remaining LeT operatives and sympathizers in the region.
