Pakistan denies Pahalgam attack link; India unconvinced as 2 local, 2 foreign terrorists identified

India remained sceptical of Pakistan’s denial of involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack that killed at least 25 tourists and a Valley resident, as investigators identified key suspects, including local militants and foreign nationals believed to have links with Pakistan-based terror outfits.

Despite Islamabad distancing itself from the incident, New Delhi pointed to preliminary findings suggesting cross-border support for the assault, which has been described as the deadliest attack on civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The attack, which took place on Tuesday at the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, saw four heavily armed terrorists open fire on unarmed tourists. Two of the attackers were identified by Indian agencies as locals, including a known overground worker recently returned from Pakistan.

One of them, Adil, was recognised by locals, and another was identified but required further verification with the help of the local police. Central agencies indicated that the group also included two foreign nationals.

While Pakistan’s Defence Minister denied any connection to the killings and claimed that his country rejects terrorism in all forms, Indian authorities found the assertion unconvincing, particularly as a shadow organisation linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Toiba group reportedly claimed responsibility.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a separate statement expressing concern over the loss of civilian lives, but Indian officials viewed both remarks with suspicion, especially given recent inflammatory comments made by Pakistan’s Army chief about Kashmir.

The Resistance Front (TRF), said to be operating as a front for Lashkar-e-Toiba, is believed to have orchestrated the attack, which was carried out with American-made M4 carbine rifles and AK-47s.

According to the initial investigation, the attackers approached the tourists dressed in camouflage and traditional clothing, took them hostage at gunpoint, separated women and children, and executed some victims after verifying their identities. They later opened fire indiscriminately, leaving behind dozens of spent cartridges at the scene.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which dispatched a senior team to the site, is expected to take over the probe from the local police following the registration of a formal case. The NIA officers began recording witness testimonies and reviewing preliminary evidence to determine the operational planning and possible foreign assistance behind the assault.

The timing of the attack, which came shortly after Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir reiterated his country’s uncompromising stance on Kashmir, has added a geopolitical dimension to the tragedy. His recent comments during a convention in Islamabad referred to Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein,” which Indian authorities dismissed as provocative and unfounded.