“During questioning, they have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba,” the NIA spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report.
The men allegedly provided food, shelter, and logistical assistance to the terrorists before the attack. The agency has charged them under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).Read more: Israel Iran War LIVE Updates: Iran’s Evin prison in Tehran hit amid targeted attacks from Israel
Shift from attackers’ identities
The development marks a departure from earlier reports. Two days after the attack, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had released sketches of three suspects—Pakistani nationals Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai alias Talha, and a local resident, Adil Hussain Thoker.
However, sources in the central agency told Indian Express that none of these individuals were involved in the Pahalgam incident.
Investigators now believe that one of the attackers was Suleiman Shah, a Pakistani citizen previously linked to the October 2022 killing of seven construction workers involved in the Z-Morh tunnel project. Shah’s associate in that case, Junaid Ramzan Bhat, was killed during a J&K police encounter in December 2023.Photos recovered, fresh evidence presented
Police recovered photos from Bhat’s phone, including one that went viral after the Pahalgam incident, becoming instrumental in the current investigation.
“The fresh pictures were also shown to several witnesses, and they too confirmed their presence at the crime scene. All three are Pakistani nationals, including the Z-Morh terror accused Suleman Shah,” a source told the Indian Express.
Investigators cross-checked these images with testimonies from the arrested locals and other witnesses. Authorities also questioned over 200 people, including pony operators, photographers, and shopkeepers in the area.
Read more: FATF condemns Pahalgam terror attack, calls for unified global response to counter terror funding
Previous attacks under scrutiny
As per the report, central agencies and the NIA are now reviewing past attacks to determine if the same individuals were involved. Officials suspect Shah’s involvement in the ambush that killed three Army personnel in Kulgam in August 2023, and another attack in Poonch in May 2025 that resulted in the death of an Air Force serviceman.
Sources said that the three terrorists visited the locals’ homes on April 22, demanded food, handed over some money, and issued threats to ensure silence. “Parvaiz had a common friend with a pony operator, and their wives shared details of the visitor at their house,” a source added.
“As per the probe, Parvaiz and Bashir knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park before the attack,” the spokesperson said. “The two men had provided food, shelter, and logistical support to the terrorists.”
