India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally charged two Pakistan-based militant organizations and six individuals for orchestrating the April tourist massacre in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, that resulted in 26 fatalities and brought nuclear-armed India and Pakistan to the brink of war.
The comprehensive 1,597-page chargesheet, submitted to a special court in Jammu on Monday, names Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) – designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations – and The Resistance Front (TRF) with planning, facilitating, and executing the attack. The document also identifies six individuals, including three who were eliminated by security forces shortly after the incident.
Among those charged is Sajid Jatt, whom the NIA describes as a ‘Pakistani terrorist handler,’ along with two other suspects who have been in NIA custody since June. According to agency statements, interrogation of these individuals revealed that the three armed assailants were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned LeT network.
The accused face multiple charges under India’s criminal code and stringent anti-terrorism legislation, including waging war against the nation. The NIA’s extensive eight-month investigation has traced the conspiracy back to Pakistan, with further inquiries ongoing.
The April 22 attack transformed the popular tourist meadow of Baisaran, approximately 7km from Pahalgam town, into a killing field. Militants specifically targeted and executed 25 male Hindu tourists, along with a local Muslim pony handler who attempted to assist the victims.
This incident represents one of the deadliest militant attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir since 2019 and triggered significant diplomatic consequences. India subsequently revoked the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, while Pakistan responded by withdrawing from the 1972 Simla Agreement on bilateral dispute resolution. These actions precipitated a four-day conflict involving missile and drone exchanges between the neighboring nations, ultimately concluding with a fragile ceasefire.
The Kashmir region remains a persistent flashpoint between India and Pakistan, with both nations asserting full claims over the territory while controlling only portions of it. The countries have engaged in two major wars over the disputed region throughout their history.