New Delhi:
The April 22 mass shooting in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, which claimed 26 civilian lives, has been confirmed as a covert operation orchestrated by Pakistan’s ISI and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). According to Indian security sources, the attack was carefully planned with guidance from Pakistani military and political leaders and was only executed by Pakistanis in order to maintain secrecy.
The preliminary report from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) confirms the extensive involvement of entities based in Pakistan. It states that the attack was allegedly conceived at Lashkar headquarters, with logistical input and operational control from both the ISI and Pakistan Army. Furthermore, two attackers, Hashmi Musa (alias Suleman) and Ali Bhai (alias Talha Bhai) have been identified as Pakistani LeT operatives operating at the behest of their handlers across the border.
Massive espionage which was conducted weeks before the attack is also brought to light in the preliminary NIA findings. Over ground worker (OGW) in the Kashmir Valley is said to have assisted by identifying the target of attacks, offer cover, and provide surveillance. They have already arrested over 150 individuals as part of the investigation and this includes suspected OGWs, associates of terrorist networks, among others.
There is a lot of evidence from forensic investigations. Researchers mapped the attack area in three dimensions, located satellite phone signals that were active near the Pahalgam site, and recovered over forty spent cartridges for ballistic analysis. CCTV footage and data from mobile towers have also been gathered to aid in the event reconstruction.
One of the deadliest acts of targeted terrorism against civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, this attack was executed with precision and cross-border coordination. According to the NIA report, the attackers specifically chose Baisaran because of its relative isolation and low level of security, which allowed them to maximize civilian casualties and control escape routes.
In order to maintain deniability and adhere to strategic goals, intelligence also shows that these militants were carrying out orders in real time from handlers in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, which guided their timing, execution, and movements.
The NIA’s ongoing probe is now entering its next phase. Based on preliminary findings, raids, arrests, and further scrutiny of forensic and communications data are being carried out across multiple districts. Agencies are also examining the possible involvement of those sheltering the foreign terrorists, two suspects were recently arrested for providing food and shelter to the Pahalgam attackers.
The attack's classification as an ISI LeT conspiracy exacerbates security and diplomatic tensions by linking Pakistan's official strategic apparatus to cross-border terrorism. India temporarily suspended trade relations, withdrew Pakistani diplomats and raised military alerts, shortly after the tragedy which showed how grave the situation was.
While the NIA prepares its comprehensive report for the Ministry of Home Affairs, investigators are routing their focus toward dismantling local support networks and establishing direct links to Pakistan based terrorist planning cells. The NIA director is expected to present the final dossier to the government shortly.
As the probe deepens, the revelation that the perpetrators were exclusively Pakistani nationals aims to underscore the outright foreign orchestration of the attack, an assertion that seeks to draw global attention to state sponsored terrorism tactics affecting regional stability and civilian safety.
