The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has secured a five-day custody of two men arrested for allegedly harboring the Pakistani terrorists involved in the deadly Pahalgam attack that occurred on April 22, 2025. A local court in Jammu granted the remand on Monday, June 23, 2025, marking a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the gruesome terror strike that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, and left 16 others injured.
The arrested individuals, identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar, a resident of Batkote, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, from Hill Park, both located in Pahalgam, were taken into custody by the NIA on Sunday. They were presented before Additional District and Sessions Judge Ritesh Kumar Dubey in Jammu, who remanded them to NIA custody until June 27.
According to the NIA, preliminary investigations suggest that Parvaiz and Bashir knowingly provided shelter to three armed terrorists at a seasonal hut (dhok) in Hill Park prior to the attack. The duo allegedly supplied the terrorists with food, shelter, and logistical support, facilitating their heinous plan.
During interrogation, the two accused reportedly disclosed the identities of the attackers, confirming that they were Pakistani nationals associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a banned terrorist organization. The NIA further stated that the terrorists selectively targeted victims based on their religious identity, a chilling detail that underscores the extremist nature of the attack.
The Pahalgam attack, which occurred in the Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination surrounded by dense pine forests, involved five militants armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s. The attackers specifically targeted Hindu tourists, although a Christian tourist and a local Muslim were also among the victims. This incident is considered the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The attack drew widespread condemnation and outrage across the nation, leading to intensified counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Following the incident, the Jammu and Kashmir Police released sketches of three suspected militants based on eyewitness accounts, stating that they were linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and believed to be of Pakistani origin.
The NIA is continuing its efforts to identify local collaborators and uncover the full extent of the terror network behind the Pahalgam attack. The investigation aims to bring all those involved to justice and prevent similar incidents in the future.
