The investigation into the Pahalgam massacre, which occurred on April 22, 2025, continues to reveal new details about the perpetrators and the planning behind the attack. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation from the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The attack, which targeted tourists in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.

Initial inquiries suggest the terrorists, mostly Pakistani nationals, were present in the Baisaran Valley at least 48 hours before the attack, suggesting they thoroughly surveyed the area. Over Ground Workers (OGWs), or terrorist sympathizers, who were interrogated after the attack, revealed that the Aru and Betaab valleys and an amusement park in Pahalgam were also scouted as potential targets. However, these locations were heavily guarded, leading the terrorists to choose Baisaran due to its comparatively lighter security.

According to security sources, the terrorists are believed to be hiding in the dense, mountainous forests of South Kashmir. They are reportedly using advanced tactics and jungle warfare skills to evade capture. These terrorists are equipped with advanced rifles, encrypted communication devices, and sufficient provisions to survive in the forest for weeks without detection. They narrowly escaped at least three near-encounters with security forces in the past week.

The investigation team has identified Hashim Musa, also known as Suleman, as one of the Pakistani militants involved in the attack. Musa is believed to have previously served in Pakistan's paramilitary forces before joining the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Further investigation revealed that the terror module responsible for the Pahalgam attack was also linked to an attack in the Ganderbal district in 2024, where six laborers and a doctor were killed near the Z-Morh tunnel project.

A former sleeper cell member has claimed that the Pahalgam attack could not have been executed without the assistance of local operatives. According to this individual, around 5-6 local operatives were in contact with the Lashkar terrorists and likely provided information about the security situation in the area. The sleeper cell members were probably consulted a month before the attack, indicating that the operation was planned well in advance.

The Pahalgam attack has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with India accusing Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism. In response to the attack, India reportedly suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, expelled Pakistani diplomats, and closed borders. Pakistan has denied these accusations.