NEW DELHI: In a grim revelation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Thursday that terrorists deliberately chose the scenic Baisaran meadow in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam as the target for their brutal attack. The agency stated that the site was selected for its high tourist presence and relative isolation, which the assailants calculated would delay the “response time” from security agencies.
The coordinated attack on April 22 killed 26 people, including tourists and families who were picnicking and enjoying pony rides in the meadow, which is often referred to as ‘Mini Switzerland’ for its serene beauty. According to the NIA, three Pakistani nationals affiliated with the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were directly involved in the brutal assault.
Investigation and India’s Retaliatory Strikes
The investigation led to the arrest of two local men, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, who were charged with harboring the terrorists and providing them with food and logistical support. The NIA confirmed that the three LeT assailants were later killed on July 28 in an encounter code-named Operation Mahadev on the outskirts of Srinagar, where they had been hiding since the attack.
In a swift and decisive response to the Pahalgam tragedy, the Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor on May 7. The precision strikes targeted nine terrorist hideouts and training centers in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), from where attacks against India are planned and directed. The operation hit the headquarters of both LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed, underscoring India’s firm stance against cross-border terrorism.