June 24, 2025: On Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that all of the perpetrators were foreign nationals and that there was “no local involvement” in the terror attack in Pahalgam that resulted in the deaths of 26 people. Omar said this two days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) made its first major breakthrough in the case by arresting two local residents — Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar — for allegedly harbouring the terrorists responsible for the April 22 attack, which also left 16 tourists grievously injured.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) reported on Sunday that the two accused have revealed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack and confirmed that they are Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). “ The biggest thing is that there was no local involvement. In the tourist town of Gulmarg, Omar revealed to reporters that the 26 people who were shot were all foreigners. He stated that during the course of the investigation, the NIA made two arrests for assisting the attackers. However, he emphasized that the pair might have been coerced into assisting the terrorists. “And maybe the NIA also said that they were forced to help them. Now, let the investigation continue. After that, the charges will be presented to the NIA,” he said.
Based on eyewitness accounts from the victims, video footage, technical evidence, and even the sketches that had been released earlier by Jammu and Kashmir Police, the NIA stated on Monday that it had gathered a substantial body of evidence regarding the identities of the terrorists involved in the attack. The NIA said the identities and further details of the terrorists will be made public at an appropriate time.