NIA Charges Hafiz Saeed for Role in Pahalgam Terror Attack

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India has filed a supplementary charge sheet against Hafiz Saeed, the leader of the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). This charge sheet outlines Pakistan's alleged involvement in a terror attack in Pahalgam, specifically at Baisaran meadow, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, including tourists and a pony operator.

The NIA stated that the charge sheet is an extension of a comprehensive 1,597-page document submitted previously in December 2024. The key focus is on the conspiracy orchestrated from Pakistan, implicating Hafiz Saeed not only as a conspirator but also as the chief of LeT and its associated group, The Resistance Front (TRF).

According to the agency, the latest charge sheet lays out supporting evidence gathered through a thorough scientific investigation and fieldwork carried out during the probe.

Hafiz Saeed is a designated terrorist within India and has been linked to multiple attacks, most notably the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He faces charges under terrorism-related sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The NIA has also numbered the charges relating to waging war against India and plotting terrorist activities from the Pakistani territory.

The attack on April 21, 2025, was committed by three Pakistani terrorists identified in the charge sheet—Faisal Jatt, Habeeb Tahir, and Hamza Afghani. Their actions initiated a four-day military engagement between India and Pakistan.

The NIA has indicated that Saeed, alongside his associates, played a pivotal role in facilitating and executing the attack. The probe indicated that the terrorists had prior knowledge of the site, facilitated by coordinates shared from Pakistan.

Evidence from mobile devices seized from the attackers supports claims that they were directed by Sajid Saifullah Jatt, a leader of the TRF. Communication logs revealed planning discussions, including the sharing of geographical coordinates and instructions to perpetrate the assault.

The charge sheet further detailed how the attackers sought refuge in a local’s home shortly before the assault, where they discussed logistics and intentions surrounding the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra, a significant pilgrimage in the region.

Following the incident, the NIA confirmed that investigations remain active, aiming to uncover the entirety of the conspiracy masterminded in Pakistan. The agency emphasised that the operation was clearly linked to state-sponsored terrorism across the border.

In response to the Pahalgam attack, India launch Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Kashmir. This military action preceded a ceasefire on May 10, 2025, and was aimed at degrading capabilities of terrorist entities operating from its territory.

The NIA's investigative findings have painted a dire picture of the security landscape regarding cross-border terrorism, reiterating that the co-ordination, planning, and execution of such attacks are typically executed from Pakistani soil, hindered by a structured hierarchy and logistical support originating from there.