NIA arrests two locals for ‘harbouring’ LeT terrorists behind Pahalgam terror attack

Srinagar: In a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the April 22 terror attack in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam hill station, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested two local residents for allegedly harbouring the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who carried out the deadly assault.

The arrested individuals - Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam - are accused of providing shelter and logistical support to the three heavily armed terrorists who struck at the scenic Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination often dubbed “Mini Switzerland”.

The attack claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a local resident, sending shockwaves across the Kashmir Valley and the country.

The arrests come two months after the gruesome assault and follow a wide-ranging investigation by the NIA that involved questioning more than 2,000 people, including ponywalas and other local eyewitnesses.

A couple of weeks ago, the anti-terror probe agency conducted coordinated raids at 32 locations across Kashmir, including in Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Sopore, and Kupwara districts.

In a statement, the NIA said the two arrested men had “knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) in "Hill Park" prior to the attack.

“They provided food, shelter and logistical support to the Pakistani terrorists affiliated with the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba,” the statement said. The duo has also reportedly revealed the identities of the attackers and confirmed that they were foreign nationals.

According to the NIA, the assailants selectively targeted the victims based on their religious identity, making it one of the most heinous and communal terror attacks in recent memory. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit of the LeT, had earlier claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Pahalgam attack occurred at the height of the tourist season, dealing a blow to the Valley's fragile sense of security and stability.

In its aftermath, security forces launched a massive manhunt in the mountainous and forested terrain of Pahalgam and Kokernag in Anantnag. However, the perpetrators have yet to be captured or neutralised.

Two weeks after the carnage, India launched “Operation Sindoor”, a retaliatory offensive targeting terror launchpads and infrastructure across the Line of Control in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The government said the action was aimed at avenging the killings and dismantling the cross-border terror infrastructure.

The NIA said Saturday’s arrests mark a major step forward in exposing the local support network that enabled the attack. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether Parvaiz and Bashir were part of a wider module or had additional links to LeT handlers across the border.

Security experts have revealed a revival of militant activity in parts of south Kashmir and Jammu’s Pir Panjal region. In particular, the role of overground workers - locals who provide support, shelter, and intelligence to infiltrating militants - has come under increased scrutiny.