Pahalgam Terror Attack: NIA Arrests Two for Harbouring Pakistani LeT Terrorists in Deadly April Assault

 India – June 22, 2025 – In a significant breakthrough in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday announced the arrest of two individuals for allegedly harbouring and providing logistical support to the Pakistani terrorists who carried out the deadly assault that killed 26 tourists in Jammu & Kashmir.

The arrested men have been identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam.

According to an official statement released by the NIA, the duo not only harboured the armed terrorists but also provided crucial information that led to the identification of the attackers. During questioning, Parvaiz and Bashir disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack and confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Key Details from NIA Investigations:

• Harbouring Terrorists: The NIA revealed that Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly provided shelter, food, and logistical support to the three LeT terrorists in a seasonal hut (dhok) at Hill Park, Pahalgam, before the attack.
• Targeted Attack: The investigation has further corroborated that the terrorists selectively targeted tourists based on their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terror strikes in the region in recent years. The April 22 attack saw armed terrorists open fire on tourists in Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley, also known as 'Mini Switzerland', leading to 26 fatalities and injuring 16 others.
• Legal Action: The two accused have been arrested under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, which deals with the punishment for harbouring a terrorist.
• Ongoing Probe: The arrests are part of NIA's ongoing investigation into case RC-02/2025/NIA/JMU, registered after the attack that sent shockwaves across the country. The agency stated that further investigations into the broader conspiracy are continuing.

The arrests shed more light on the support network that enabled the terrorists to carry out the attack and underscore the involvement of Pakistan-based militant outfits. This development comes as India continues its strong stance against cross-border terrorism, with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) also recently condemning the Pahalgam attack and noting that such incidents cannot occur without the means to move funds between terrorist supporters.