In accordance with orders from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the National probe Agency (NIA) has formally assumed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack probe, highlighting the seriousness of the event and its consequences for national security.
Twenty-five Indian citizens and one person from Nepal were killed in the April 22 incident at the picturesque Baisaran valley in Pahalgam, where terrorists opened fire on visitors, injuring numerous others.
Considered to be one of the deadliest attacks in Kashmir since the Pulwama attack in 2019, it has sparked protests and outrage nationwide, with calls for strict action against Pakistan, which is accused of sponsoring the attack through the Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group that is a spin-off of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Teams from the NIA have stepped up their attempts to gather evidence at the attack site, where they have remained since Wednesday. Senior officials, including an Inspector General (IG), Deputy Inspector General (DIG), and Superintendent of Police (SP), are spearheading the probe, with assistance from forensic specialists. In order to piece together the events and determine the terrorists’ method of operation, the teams are closely analyzing the crime scene’s entry and exit locations. In order to put together the date and manner of the assault, eyewitnesses—including survivors and those who saw the attack firsthand—are being questioned in great detail.
To find local collaborators and larger conspiracies, the NIA is questioning jailed terrorists and ground workers connected to LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and other groups in addition to eyewitnesses. The collected evidence is seen to be essential for both exposing the international connections of the terror network and for prosecuting the offenders.
The Indian government has responded to the incident with a number of important actions. The suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty marks a dramatic decline in bilateral ties with Pakistan. All visa categories for Pakistani nationals, with the exception of official, diplomatic, and long-term visas, have been immediately withdrawn, and the Attari checkpoint has been closed. The government’s determination to make Pakistan responsible for its purported support of cross-border terrorism and to provide justice for the victims is demonstrated by these actions.
With a thorough investigation underway to bring the culprits and their supporters to justice and a larger diplomatic and security posture being adopted in light of the incident, the NIA’s takeover represents a crucial escalation in India’s response to the Pahalgam terror assault.
