In a significant breakthrough in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has confirmed that the three perpetrators were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The agency has arrested two individuals, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar—both residents of Pahalgam—for allegedly harboring the attackers before the brutal incident that claimed 26 innocent lives in Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination also known as ‘Mini Switzerland.’
According to the NIA’s statement, the two arrested men provided shelter, food, and logistical support to the terrorists in a seasonal hut at Hill Park. On the day of the attack, the gunmen targeted tourists based on their religious identity, executing them at close range. Among the victims were 25 tourists and a local pony ride operator. The revelation that the attack was meticulously planned and supported locally has shocked the nation and intensified scrutiny on cross-border terror networks.
Following the massacre, the Indian government launched Operation Sindoor to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. This retaliatory action triggered a sharp military response from Islamabad, including missile and drone strikes along the western border. India’s air defence systems successfully intercepted most incoming threats. Subsequently, India targeted key Pakistani military facilities, forcing Pakistan to request a ceasefire. New Delhi has made it clear that any future terror provocations will result in a decisive and forceful counteraction.
