3 terrorists involved in Pahalgam attack, says NIA

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday , Aug 28, confirmed that “three terrorists” affiliated to the proscribed outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were directly involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives and triggered a massive armed retaliation by India on terror infrastructures in Pakistan.
NIA officials said the terrorists chose the picturesque Baisaran meadow in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam as the target for the attack due to its high tourist presence and relative isolation. “The terrorists assessed the relative isolation of the site and the likelihood of a delayed response from security forces before finalising it,” an NIA officer said.
On April 22, terrorists targeted only male tourists, killing 25 of them, as well as a local pony guide.
“The choice of location showed that the terrorists intended to maximise casualties and spread fear by targeting civilians in a popular tourist hub,” the officer added. Although initial survivor accounts suggested presence of four to five terrorists, NIA’s findings have now confirmed that the attack was carried out by three Pakistani terrorists.
The agency also highlighted the role of two local overground workers (OGWs) who provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists in exchange for Rs 3,000. “The duo —Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar from Pahalgam—were arrested in June. Their disclosures helped confirm the identities of the attackers as Pakistani nationals linked to LeT,” an officer said.