Two apprehended for sheltering Pahalgam assailants, three LeT militants recognized

Precisely two months after 26 innocent civilians were killed by Pakistani terrorists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Sunday that it has detained two individuals who purportedly offered shelter and logistical assistance to the assailants.

The two individuals have been recognized as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, who also revealed the identities of three terrorists involved in the April 22 assault that resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and one local.

“In a major breakthrough in the Pahalgam terror attack case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two men for harbouring the terrorists who had carried out the horrendous attack that killed 26 innocent tourists and grievously injured 16 others,” an NIA statement said.

“The two men – Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam – have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT),” it added.

As per the investigation, Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park before the attack, the agency added.

“The two men had provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, who had, on the fateful afternoon, selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks ever,” the statement read further.

The duo has been apprehended by the anti-terror agency under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. On April 22, four heavily-armed militants invaded the Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam and shot Hindu men at close range after verifying their faith.

This triggered a significant military confrontation between India and Pakistan, where India initiated Operation Sindoor with precise airstrikes on terrorist launch sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) on May 7. The assaults led to the destruction of nine terrorist bases functioning from the territory administered by Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 terrorists.

In the days that followed, India caused additional destruction to Pakistani military facilities, such as the Noor Khan air base located in Rawalpindi in Punjab province, Pakistan. Pakistan additionally engaged in frequent ceasefire breaches along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the international border in Punjab and Rajasthan.

The fighting ceased after the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) asked his Indian equivalent to halt fire, and both parties concurred on this on May 10. Subsequently, India cautioned Pakistan that any additional provocations would lead to a stronger reaction.