On Day 12 of the investigation into the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Director General of the NIA may return to Delhi with a preliminary report on the Pahalgam attack, which will be submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The preliminary report indicates that this attack was the result of collusion between Pakistan’s ISI and Lashkar. Following the completion of this report, the NIA has expanded its investigation into other regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Teams from the agency have interrogated two Over Ground Workers (OGWs), Nisar Ahmad alias Haji and Mushtaq Hussain, at Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu. Both individuals are from Bhata Durian in the Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district. During the interrogation, the NIA attempted to gather more information regarding the Pakistani terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack and inquired about their possible hideouts in the hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir so that they can be cornered at earliest.
Forces in Kashmir valley have also escalated their efforts to dismantle a terror support network, booking around 70 Over Ground Workers (OGWs) under the Public Safety Act (PSA). These individuals face a minimum two-year imprisonment unless a court intervenes.
Jammu and Kashmir Police along with army and security forces launched a series of raids, targeting approximately 100 locations linked to the arrested OGWs. Among the properties searched was that of Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar, alias Latrum, the founder of the banned Al-Umar terror outfit, who gained notoriety after being released in a 1999 hijacking incident.
As part of ongoing operations, security personnel are actively combing the forests surrounding Pahalgam, focusing on areas in Dachigam, Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag. They are also monitoring area’s of LOC where ceasefire violations were reported overnight for the eight consecutive day, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor.
A multi-agency team comprising the National Investigation Agency (NIA), forensic experts, and intelligence representatives are currently stationed in Pahalgam. Since the attack, around 2,500 individuals have been interrogated, with approximately 220 under preventive detention for further questioning. Investigators have identified 15 OGWs with direct connections to the attack, some of whom have already been apprehended.
Advanced 3D mapping technology has been utilized to aid in questioning detainees and gathering critical information about the circumstances surrounding the attack. Forces remain on high alert as they believe the four terrorists responsible for the gruesome attack are still hiding in nearby forested areas of Pahalgam. Intelligence sources indicate that these assailants are well-prepared and self-sufficient, equipped with provisions that allow them to evade capture for extended periods.
Reports suggest that the attackers are armed with sophisticated weaponry, including U.S.-made M4 carbine rifles and AK-47 assault rifles. Forensic analysis confirmed the recovery of used cartridges at the site, aligning with ballistic data indicating the use of these weapons.
One of the most alarming aspects of this attack was the reported use of GoPro cameras mounted on the terrorists’ caps, likely intended to document the assault. This tactic is reminiscent of previous attacks conducted by terrorist outfits such as the People’s Anti-Fascist Front and Kashmir Tigers, which operate as proxies for Pakistan-based terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammad. Sources indicate that while the attack was primarily executed by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), it received backing from various major terror outfits like Jaish and Harkat.
Additionally, intelligence officials are investigating the potential use of Huawei satellite phones and encrypted messaging platforms that may have facilitated secure communication among terrorists, allowing them to avoid detection by forces.
