In a chilling revelation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has unearthed a direct operational link between Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in orchestrating the brutal April 22 attack in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam. The ambush claimed 26 innocent lives, most of them tourists seeking solace in the picturesque Kashmir region.

Sources within the NIA indicate that the blueprint for the attack was crafted at LeT’s Pakistan-based headquarters, allegedly under instructions from senior ISI handlers. The conspiracy wasn’t merely ideological—it was meticulously strategic.

Central to the plot were two Pakistani nationals, identified as Hashmi Musa alias Suleman and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai. Both militants maintained consistent contact with their ISI-backed commanders in Pakistan, receiving precise orders on execution logistics, movement, and timing. Intelligence reveals they infiltrated Indian territory weeks prior, supported on ground by a web of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) who provided them shelter, reconnaissance intelligence, and escape routes.

The NIA’s technical arm has launched an extensive data analysis operation. Over 40 cartridges recovered from the ambush site have been sent for detailed forensic testing. Investigators also employed 3D mapping technology to reconstruct the attack trajectory, while mobile tower data dumps and satellite communication logs pointed to suspicious activity in the days leading up to the massacre.

At least three satellite phones were active in the region, with two traced to zones near Baisaran—further confirming external coordination.

In a sweeping crackdown, security forces and NIA teams have questioned over 2,800 individuals. As of May 2, more than 150 suspects—ranging from OGWs to individuals linked to proscribed outfits like Jamaat-e-Islami and Hurriyat factions—remain in custody. Raids have been conducted across volatile districts including Pulwama, Anantnag, Sopore, Kupwara, and Baramulla.

Investigators also searched the Srinagar home of Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar alias Latrum, an IC-814 hijack conspirator currently operating from Pakistan. His property had already been attached under UAPA in 2023.

Testimonies from local pony operators, food stall owners, and victims’ families indicate the attackers were wearing chest-mounted cameras, possibly for creating propaganda footage. CCTV footage, checkpoint logs, and pattern-mapping tools are now being used to verify these claims.

This attack has been linked to a 2024 terror strike near the Z-Morh tunnel in Sonamarg, where six migrant workers and a doctor were killed. LeT’s same unit is believed to have been involved in both. One key operative from that cell, Junaid Ahmed Bhatt, was eliminated in December 2024. Hashmi Musa, now confirmed dead, was also reportedly part of both operations.

NIA sources believe the Pahalgam attackers reached the valley around April 15. Reconnaissance was conducted at four locations—Baisaran, Aru, Betaab Valley, and a local amusement park. Baisaran was chosen due to comparatively sparse security coverage, making it a soft target.

With four OGWs actively aiding the attackers in tracking tourist patterns and security gaps, the attack was executed with chilling precision—leaving behind a bloodstained reminder of Pakistan’s continuing proxy war in Kashmir.