Our Bureau
New Delhi
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet naming Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed as the alleged mastermind behind the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local resident. Filed before a Special NIA Court in Jammu, the chargesheet accuses Saeed of planning, supervising and directing the attack from across the border, marking a significant development in India’s investigation into one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.
According to the NIA, Saeed has been charged both in his individual capacity and as the founder and chief of the banned terrorist organisation LeT and its proxy outfit, The Resistance Front (TRF). Investigators have invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), alleging offences including conspiracy, waging war against India and orchestrating acts of terrorism.
The agency alleges that the conspiracy was conceived and monitored from Pakistan, with Saeed directing LeT and TRF operatives responsible for executing the assault in the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam. Officials said the supplementary chargesheet strengthens the evidence linking the attack to Pakistan-based terrorist leadership and cross-border networks.
The Pahalgam attack had triggered nationwide outrage and intensified diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan. Earlier investigations had already identified several Pakistani and local operatives allegedly involved in facilitating the assault. With Saeed now formally named as an accused, Indian authorities believe the case further reinforces their position on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and could strengthen future legal and diplomatic efforts to hold those responsible accountable. The NIA said investigations into the wider conspiracy and support network behind the attack remain ongoing.
