Pahalgam Terror Attack: NIA Arrests Two Kashmiris for Aiding Pakistani Terrorists in Gruesome Tourist Massacre

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two Kashmiri men, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, for allegedly providing critical support — including food, shelter, and logistics — to at least three Pakistani terrorists behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The assault, one of the deadliest in recent memory, resulted in the killing of 26 people, including 24 Indian tourists, a local Kashmiri, and a Nepalese citizen. Victims were reportedly singled out based on religious identity and executed at close range in front of their families.

The arrested men, both pony handlers living in tents in the Baisaran meadow region, are accused of sheltering the terrorists at a remote seasonal dhok (hut) near Hill Park. According to the NIA, the accused knowingly aided members of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the lead-up to the attack. The duo has confirmed to investigators the terrorists’ identities and affiliations with LeT.

The investigation, initially led by Jammu and Kashmir Police, was handed over to the NIA by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The agency deployed a senior team, including an IG-rank officer, to oversee the probe. Over 1,000 witnesses have reportedly been questioned, including residents of the affected areas, in efforts to trace the attackers’ movements and network.

The April 22 massacre at Baisaran meadows sent shockwaves across the country. Armed with assault rifles, the terrorists ambushed tourists during peak travel season. Eyewitnesses recounted the horror as gunmen selectively targeted individuals, making it a calculated hate-driven massacre.

India’s response came swiftly. On May 7, New Delhi launched Operation Sindoor, a series of precision air and missile strikes targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Key locations associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed were hit. In retaliation, Pakistan attempted strikes on Indian civilian and military infrastructure, prompting a second wave of Indian strikes targeting Pakistani air defence systems and airbases. The tit-for-tat escalations ended with an informal cessation of hostilities agreed on May 10.

The arrest of Parvaiz and Bashir marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation, as Indian authorities work to dismantle the local support networks that enable cross-border terror plots. The NIA continues to explore the broader conspiracy behind the Pahalgam attack.