In one of the most chilling terror attacks in recent times, 26 civilians were killed and 16 injured in the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam Terrorist attack in J&K. Intelligence sources now reveal that the terrorists responsible were Pakistani nationals who entered India using the Abbottabad-Muzaffarabad-Poonch route, a corridor increasingly used for cross-border terrorism.
According to a report in the media, the attackers were believed to have started their journey in Abbottabad, Pakistan – the same city where Osama Bin Laden was killed – before moving to Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). From there, they crossed the Line of Control (LoC) into Jammu and Kashmir, entering Indian territory through the Poonch-Rajouri infiltration corridor, a route known for militant intrusions.
The attackers, are allegedly associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and were given shelter by two locals in Pahalgam – Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar of Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park – who have since been arrested. They are accused of giving food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists in a seasonal hunt in the Hill Park area.
A video shared by journalist Hemir Desai on X shows the moment of their arrest:
“Two Kashmiri Muslims arrested. They knew the date and time of the Pahalgam attack, provided escape routes & logistical support to Pakistani terrorists. Now in NIA custody,” Desai wrote.
Terrorist involved in Pahalgam attack was sheltered by these Kashmiri Muslims, they provided logistics, escape route, and was aware of the attack date and time. NIA now took them into custody and will produce them in Court. pic.twitter.com/SgWR4hvifj
— Hemir Desai (@hemirdesai) June 23, 2025
Sources suggest the attackers had advanced training in combat tactics, covert movement, and survival and had possibly been involved in past attacks in the Spiner area of Jammu and Kashmir. Officials believe that the victims were targeted based on religious identity, marking this incident as an act of communal violence and cross-border extremism.
Investigators are now checking the terrorists’ digital footprints and intercepted communications. The group reportedly used a specialised, encrypted communication system that made detection and tracking extremely difficult. There is also evidence indicating the use of multiple safe houses and possible links to other sleeper cells in the region.
While the case remains open, authorities have gathered strong evidence including CCTV footage, police sketches, eyewitness accounts and forensic data. During interrogation, the two arrested locals reportedly confirmed the attackers’ foreign origin and organisational affiliation.
The focus of the probe has now shifted to unearthing other terror networks operating within Jammu and Kashmir and sealing infiltration routes. The use of the Poonch-Rajouri corridor by militants has become a major national security concern.
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