The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expected to file a charge sheet soon in connection with the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a pony operator. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the agency will name Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as the main orchestrator of the attack, along with two local accomplices who aided the three Pakistani terrorists responsible for the assault.

The two locals, Bashir Ahmad Jothar and Parvez Ahmad Jothar, were arrested on June 22, nearly two months after the attack, for allegedly harboring the terrorists at a seasonal hut in Hill Park, Pahalgam, prior to the incident. The three terrorists—Suleiman Shah, Hamza Afghani alias Afghan, and Jibran—were neutralized by security forces on July 28 in the Dachigam forest area. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed in Parliament that the attackers were Pakistani nationals affiliated with LeT.

Following the arrests of Bashir and Parvez Jothar, the NIA has been rigorously investigating their role in the conspiracy. The agency obtained an extension of 45 days from a Jammu court on September 18 to complete its probe, beyond the statutory 90-day period. A senior government official indicated that the two locals were recently questioned again inside Amphalla prison in Jammu on October 18 to clarify certain aspects of the evidence and help finalize the investigation.

Officials revealed that the charge sheet is likely to identify LeT and its proxy organization, the Tehrik-i-Taliban or TRF, as parties involved in planning and executing the attack. Investigators recovered Pakistani contact numbers from the mobile phones of Bashir and Parvez Jothar, which have been crucial in tracing the broader conspiracy. Additional forensic analysis has been conducted on recoveries from the three terrorists by the National Forensic Science University, Gandhinagar.

During the investigation, the NIA has also identified additional suspects and potential overground workers (OGWs) whose involvement is being corroborated. While most evidence has been analyzed, the agency is awaiting certain forensic reports and mobile data analyses before formally filing the charge sheet. In total, the NIA has questioned over 1,000 individuals, including tourists, mule and pony operators, photographers, local employees, and shop workers, to piece together the full sequence of events leading to the attack.

The Pahalgam attack triggered a significant response from India. On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, a preemptive military strike targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Reports indicate that at least 100 terrorists were killed in these strikes, which were followed by cross-border exchanges involving fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery. In one operation conducted on the night of May 9-10, the Indian Air Force targeted 13 Pakistani airbases and military installations. After four days of hostilities, military engagements ceased on May 10 following a mutual understanding between India and Pakistan.

The NIA’s impending charge sheet is expected to provide a detailed account of the attack, the role of the two local accomplices, and the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates. It will serve as a crucial step in the judicial process, holding the accused accountable and furthering India’s efforts to dismantle terrorist networks operating in the region.

This filing is anticipated to be a comprehensive legal document, encompassing evidence gathered from interrogations, forensic reports, mobile data analyses, and recovered communications. Officials stress that the final charge sheet will illuminate the entire chain of planning and execution behind the attack, helping courts proceed with prosecution and enabling authorities to take measures against any remaining threats from affiliated terrorist groups.