NEW DELHI: The deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, was the result of a conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group, acting on directives from Pakistan's political and military leadership, according to Indian security sources.
Described as a joint ISI-LeT operation reminiscent of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the plot was reportedly executed solely by Pakistani terrorists. Lashkar commander Sajid Jutt, operating from Pakistan, was instructed by ISI to deploy only foreign operatives in Jammu & Kashmir. To maintain secrecy, no local Kashmiri militants were included, and involvement was limited strictly on a "need-to-know" basis.
The attack was led by Sulaiman, believed to be a former Pakistani special forces commando, who underwent training at LeT’s Muridke base in Pakistan’s Punjab province before infiltrating into Jammu in 2022. He was accompanied by two other Pakistani nationals, whose identities remain undisclosed.
Satellite phone intercepts placed Sulaiman in the Tral forest area on April 15, suggesting he had been near the Baisaran attack site for nearly a week prior. Security sources also link him to the April 2023 ambush on an Army truck in Poonch, where five Indian soldiers were killed, though he remained dormant afterward.
Initial suspicions included Pakistani terrorists Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai, but investigations have so far confirmed only Sulaiman’s involvement. There is also no verified evidence implicating local militant Adil Hussain Thoker as a facilitator.
Two locals from Pahalgam, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, were arrested last month by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). However, their role appears limited to providing food, shelter, and logistical support in exchange for a small sum. Both men have denied any knowledge of the plan to target tourists in Baisaran.
Security officials estimate that approximately 68 foreign terrorists and just three local militants are currently active in the Kashmir Valley.
