Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asserted that no locals were involved in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed on April 22, 2025. Addressing the media on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, Abdullah stated unequivocally that the attackers were "outsiders," referring to foreign militants, and he urged the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to avoid sweeping conclusions that could paint the local population as collaborators.
Abdullah's statement comes in the wake of the NIA's arrest of two local men, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, who are accused of providing shelter to the terrorists in the Hill Park area of Pahalgam. While acknowledging the arrests, the Chief Minister suggested that the locals might have been coerced into helping the attackers. "If they (locals) helped the attackers, it was not of their own will. Coercion in such situations cannot be ruled out," he said, emphasizing that the NIA should not jump to conclusions based on the actions of a few foreign militants.
"There was no local involvement in the Pahalgam incident. The people who shot and killed those 26 persons were all outsiders," Abdullah stated firmly. He highlighted that the "biggest thing" was the absence of local participation in the brutal killings. According to NIA investigations, the arrested locals allegedly provided logistical support, potentially including food. The NIA also confirmed that the arrested locals identified the terrorists as Pakistani nationals.
Abdullah has often defended the central government against allegations of security lapses that led to the tragic loss of life in Pahalgam's Baisaran valley. The central government holds direct responsibility for police and law enforcement in the Union Territory. The opposition has consistently blamed the Union government for security failures that enabled the terror attack and the subsequent failure to apprehend the perpetrators.
In addition to addressing the Pahalgam attack, Abdullah reiterated his call for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing that it is the people's constitutional right and not a political bargaining chip. "It's people's constitutional right. If statehood is restored, my government would not object in any way," he asserted, pushing back against what he described as "misleading narratives" on the issue. "Don't attempt to intimidate us with scripted stories. Statehood is our right and not a bargaining chip," the Chief Minister declared.
Abdullah also expressed his gratitude to the central government for approving a substantial Rs. 10,600 crore package for infrastructure development in Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that his government's focus extends beyond tourism infrastructure to encompass broader development projects aimed at fulfilling promises made to the people of the region.
