The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its probe into the deadly Pahalgam terror attack by interrogating two jailed terrorists linked to a previous massacre in Rajouri. The move comes as part of a broader crackdown on terrorism and Pakistan-based militant networks, following the April 22 attack in which 26 civilians lost their lives.
The two terrorists under fresh NIA scrutiny are Mushtaq and Nisar, currently lodged in a high-security jail in Jammu. Both were arrested in April 2023 for their involvement in the Rajouri terror attack, which left seven people dead, including two children, and many others injured in an IED blast and shooting spree.
Now, the NIA suspects the duo may have provided logistical support, operational insight, or training links to the perpetrators of the Pahalgam massacre. Their interrogation is part of a rapidly escalating investigation that aims to expose the full breadth of the terror conspiracy.
NIA Expands Pahalgam Probe Nationwide
The NIA formally registered a case related to the Pahalgam terror attack in its Jammu office on April 27. Multiple teams have since spread out across India to interview eyewitnesses and record testimonies of victims’ families in states like Maharashtra, Odisha, and West Bengal.
Preliminary findings suggest that 5 to 7 terrorists were directly involved in the Pahalgam assault. Crucially, the attackers were aided by at least two local operatives with terror training from Pakistan, pointing to a cross-border conspiracy backed by state actors.
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The Resistance Front (TRF), a known offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. The development has further worsened India-Pakistan ties, with India accusing Islamabad of sponsoring terrorism on Indian soil.
In response, India has imposed a series of punitive measures on Pakistan:
- Indus Waters Treaty suspended, stalling water sharing arrangements.
- Wagah-Attari border sealed, halting all land movement between the two countries.
- Indian airspace closed for Pakistani carriers and aircraft.
- Social media crackdown on Pakistani celebrities and media accounts in India.
- All Pakistani visas revoked, with stricter border controls imposed.
PM Modi Vows “Crushing Blow” to Terror
In a strongly worded statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed that India would deliver a “crushing blow” to terror forces, declaring that the Indian Armed Forces now have full operational freedom to decide the “mode, targets, and timing” of their response.
“We will not tolerate any more bloodshed of innocent civilians. Those who harm India will pay a heavy price,” the Prime Minister asserted.
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Meanwhile, cross-border firing continues along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir for the ninth consecutive night, as Pakistani troops reportedly opened fire on Indian forward posts. The Indian Army has responded in kind, amid heightened alertness in all border sectors.
Defence analysts suggest that the situation is on a knife-edge, with India’s retaliatory options ranging from targeted strikes to covert operations, depending on evolving intelligence inputs.
This latest terror incident has not only raised national security concerns but also galvanized India’s counter-terrorism machinery, with the NIA now leading a full-scale probe into Pakistan-backed terror networks operating within Indian borders.
