Pahalgam terror attack claimed 26 lives. Photo Credit: The Times of India
In a major breakthrough in the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two individuals accused of sheltering and assisting the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists responsible for the deadly assault that killed 26 tourists on April 22.
The two accused – Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, are residents of Pahalgam, located in south Kashmir. According to the NIA, the duo provided food, shelter, and logistical support to three armed militants affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba in the days leading up to the attack.
NIA identifies Lashkar safehouse in Pahalgam
Investigations revealed that the terrorists were hidden in a seasonal hut in Hill Park, with full knowledge and cooperation of the accused. The arrested men are believed to have had prior awareness that the individuals they were aiding were Pakistani nationals linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The NIA has booked them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, particularly Section 19, which pertains to aiding members of a terrorist organisation. Agency officials say this is the first major arrest in the case and a critical link in unravelling the wider terror network behind the Pahalgam massacre.
Names of terrorists and national alert
The three terrorists named during interrogation include two Pakistani nationals -Hashim Musa alias Suleiman and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai – and a local associate, Adil Hussain Thokar. The NIA has announced a cash reward of ₹20 lakh each for actionable information on their whereabouts.
Intelligence agencies have intensified the manhunt, extending surveillance to high-risk zones within Kashmir and along infiltration routes across the Line of Control.
Crackdown expands across Jammu and Kashmir
Following the arrests, the NIA conducted searches at 32 locations across Jammu and Kashmir, targeting operatives linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, The Resistance Front (TRF), and United Liberation Front of Jammu and Kashmir. Officials believe these groups collaborated to plan and execute the Pahalgam attack, using local logistical channels and external handlers for funding and coordination.
Security sources said the role of The Resistance Front, which claimed responsibility shortly after the incident, is under close scrutiny. TRF has long been regarded as a Lashkar proxy, used to give terror operations a local face.
Financial links under FATF scanner
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global anti-terror financing watchdog, has taken note of the Pahalgam attack, stating that such coordinated acts could not occur without financial backing. FATF officials have pledged closer monitoring of money trails linked to Pakistani-based terror groups and their alleged sympathisers within India.
As part of its financial probe, the NIA is examining the flow of funds, hawala transactions, and any electronic transfers that could have been used to support the attackers’ travel, weapons acquisition, and communication.
Operation Sindoor and cross-border strategy
The attack triggered Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory air strike by Indian forces on terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. Officials believe the Pahalgam attack was conceived, trained, and directed from across the border, with operational execution handed over to local modules.
So far, over 2,800 people have been questioned in connection with the attack, including hotel staff, taxi operators, pony handlers, and others who might have observed unusual activity. Around 150 individuals remain in custody for further interrogation.
Widening terror infrastructure in focus
The arrest of the two Pahalgam residents marks a turning point in the investigation, confirming fears that local support played a vital role in enabling foreign terrorists to operate freely. Agencies now believe that Lashkar-e-Taiba has revived older networks in Kashmir using new faces and sleeper cells, making detection more difficult.
While the Pahalgam terror attack shocked the nation with its brutality and scale, the NIA’s latest action signals a determined move to dismantle the logistical and ideological support system that allowed it to happen. As more arrests are expected, this probe could expose deeper terror infrastructure spread across the Valley.
