The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two men from Pahalgam for sheltering Pakistani terrorists who carried out a gruesome targeted killing of civilians in the area on 22 April 2025. The assault, which claimed 26 lives and left 16 grievously injured, is now officially linked to Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the agency said Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar, a resident of Batkote, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, of Hill Park, Pahalgam, were arrested for knowingly harbouring the attackers in a seasonal dhok (hut) prior to the strike. The duo provided food, shelter, and logistical support, enabling the terrorists to plan and execute one of the most brutal assaults in recent years.
“The two men... have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT),” the NIA said.
Initial investigations have revealed that the terrorists, armed with assault rifles, deliberately targeted civilians based on religious identity, making the 22 April incident a faith-based mass killing, officials said.
According to the NIA, the trio was sheltered in the Hill Park dhok before the attack. On the day of the assault, they struck civilians in a calculated manner, sparing none in their line of fire.
“Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists... who, on the fateful afternoon, selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks ever,” the agency said in its statement.
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Both men have been charged under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and are being interrogated in connection with Case RC-02/2025/NIA/JMU.
The NIA described the arrests as a “major breakthrough” in its investigation into the attack, which stunned the nation and drew condemnation from across the political spectrum.
In the days following the incident, the agency had conducted raids at 32 locations in south Kashmir, particularly in Anantnag and Pulwama districts, in a bid to uncover the broader network supporting the assailants.
Security officials said that the deliberate targeting of civilians by religious profiling, with prior reconnaissance and logistical planning, points to direct instructions from handlers across the border.
A senior officer involved in the case said, “We are investigating deeper links and support mechanisms that enabled the attack. The arrests have opened new leads, and more action is expected soon.”
The 22 April massacre is now being seen as a strategic escalation in Pakistan-sponsored terror operations in Kashmir, with Lashkar-e-Taiba likely attempting to provoke communal tensions and derail the fragile peace in the region.
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