NIA Names Hafiz Saeed In Pahalgam Attack Chargesheet, Cites Pakistan's Alleged Role

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a supplementary charge sheet against designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed in connection with the deadly terror attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 25 tourists and a local pony operator were killed. The agency said the latest filing details the alleged conspiracy behind the attack, including Pakistan's alleged role, and names Saeed both in his individual capacity and as chief of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its proxy outfit, The Resistance Front (TRF).

According to the NIA, the supplementary charge sheet was submitted before a court in Jammu and forms part of its continuing investigation into the attack. The agency said the filing supplements the original 1,597-page charge sheet submitted on December 15 last year and includes additional evidence gathered through scientific investigation, forensic analysis and on-ground examination. In a statement, the NIA said the latest charge sheet provides details of the alleged cross-border conspiracy, Saeed's role in the planning of the attack and supporting evidence collected during the course of the investigation.

The agency has charged Saeed under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to terrorism, along with provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The NIA said it has also invoked provisions relating to waging war against India and criminal conspiracy, alleging that the plot was orchestrated from across the border. Investigators contend that the attack was planned and supported by Pakistan-based terrorist infrastructure, with LeT and TRF playing key operational roles.

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Hafiz Saeed remains one of India's most-wanted terrorists and has long been accused by Indian authorities of masterminding several major terror attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. India has repeatedly sought stronger international action against Saeed and organisations allegedly linked to him. The NIA's latest filing seeks to further establish the command structure and cross-border support network that investigators believe enabled the Pahalgam attack.

The attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including 25 tourists and a local pony operator, was among the deadliest assaults on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years. The incident significantly heightened tensions between India and Pakistan and was followed by a four-day military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Indian authorities have consistently alleged Pakistan's involvement in supporting cross-border terrorism, while Pakistan has denied such allegations.

With the supplementary charge sheet now filed, the investigation enters the next stage of judicial proceedings. The NIA has indicated that the additional evidence strengthens its case regarding the alleged conspiracy, operational planning and involvement of Pakistan-based terror networks. The court will examine the supplementary charge sheet alongside the original filing as the prosecution proceeds against the accused under India's anti-terror and criminal laws.

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