Pakistan's role in Pahalgam terror attack detailed by India's NIA
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) has detailed Pakistan's role in the April 2023 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 25 tourists and a pony operator.
- The NIA charge sheet identifies Sajid Saiffullah Jatt, based in Pakistan, as the planner and reveals the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)/The Resistance Front (TRF) terrorists.
- Evidence, including phone data and IP addresses, links the attack to Pakistan, with details emerging about the terrorists' movements and preparations before the assault.
The National Investigation Agency's (NIA) charge sheet has meticulously unraveled Pakistan's deep involvement in the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam last year, a brutal act that claimed the lives of 25 innocent tourists and a local pony operator. This detailed exposรฉ, emerging from the NIA's rigorous investigation, leaves no room for doubt about the state-sponsored nature of terrorism emanating from across our border.
The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 last year was planned by The Resistance Front (TRF)/Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Sajid Saiffullah Jatt, aka Langda, who shared the co-ordinates of the Baisaran meadow with the attackers.
The charge sheet clearly names Sajid Saiffullah Jatt, operating from Pakistan's Kasur, as the mastermind behind the attack. His coordination with the terrorists, including sharing precise coordinates of the Baisaran meadow, paints a grim picture of a well-orchestrated operation. The involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its proxy The Resistance Front (TRF) further solidifies the evidence of Pakistan's persistent efforts to destabilize Jammu and Kashmir through terror.
During their getaway, the terrorists encountered three civilians hiding behind trees outside the fence and shot them at close range.
What is particularly chilling are the details of the terrorists' movements and their brazen disregard for human life. Their leisurely lunch outside the meadow before launching their assault and engaging in celebratory firing afterward speaks volumes about their depravity. Furthermore, the cold-blooded murder of three civilians encountered during their getaway highlights their brutal intent. The NIA's ability to trace the attack back to Pakistan through digital footprints, including IP addresses and phone data, serves as irrefutable proof of Islamabad's complicity.
The charge sheet, filed on December 15 last year, but details of which have just emerged, also gives a blow-by-blow account of the run-up to the attack.
This comprehensive investigation by the NIA underscores India's unwavering commitment to bringing perpetrators of terror to justice. While the charge sheet names seven accused, including terrorists killed in encounters and local facilitators, the focus remains on dismantling the terror infrastructure nurtured in Pakistan. The details emerging from this charge sheet are not just a blow-by-blow account of a past attack; they are a stark reminder of the ongoing threat we face and the need for sustained vigilance and decisive action against those who seek to harm our nation.
Both phones, NIA said, based on data from the Indian arm of the phone manufacturer Xiaomi, were sold in Pakistan.
Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.