In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a comprehensive chargesheet before a special court, formally accusing Pakistan-based terror outfits and individuals for orchestrating the deadly April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The assault, which specifically targeted tourists, resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists from across India and one local pony operator.
Chargesheet Details Conspiracy and Accused
The voluminous 1,597-page chargesheet was filed on Tuesday against seven accused. It names the proscribed terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and The Resistance Front (TRF) "as a legal entity" for their central role in planning, facilitating, and executing the attack. According to the NIA statement, the document meticulously details Pakistan's conspiracy, the specific roles of each accused, and presents supporting evidence gathered during the investigation.
Besides the organisations, five individuals have been chargesheeted. These include Pakistani handler Sajid Jatt and three slain terrorists from Pakistan: Faisal Jatt alias Suleman Shah, Habeeb Tahir alias Jibran, and Hamza Afghani. These three terrorists were eliminated by security forces during 'Operation Mahadev' in the Dachigam forests near Srinagar in July 2025.
Locals Charged for Harbouring Terrorists
Invoking stringent legal provisions, the NIA has also chargesheeted two local residents — Parvaiz Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad. They were arrested on June 22, 2025, for the grave charge of harbouring the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam massacre. All accused, including the terror outfits, face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act, 1959, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The NIA has specifically applied penal sections related to waging war against India.
Attack Triggered Military Retaliation
The April 22, 2025 attack on tourists in the scenic Pahalgam region was one of the deadliest aimed at visitors to the valley. It prompted a swift and forceful military response from India. On May 7, 2025, India launched 'Operation Sindoor', targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan retaliated by targeting civilian areas on the Indian side, with the cross-border hostilities finally ceasing on May 10, 2025.
The filing of this chargesheet, eight months after the horrific incident, marks a critical step in the legal process to bring the perpetrators, both across the border and within, to justice. It underscores the agency's findings on the external origins of the conspiracy and the internal support network.
