NIA charges Hafiz Saeed for Pahalgam terror attack
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a supplementary chargesheet in a special Jammu court naming Hafiz Saeed as an accused in the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. Saeed is charged both as an individual and as the leader of the banned Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), which he founded and leads, and its proxy group, The Resistance Front (TRF).
Saeed has been charged under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, including waging war against India and planning a cross-border conspiracy.
This new filing adds to the main 1,597-page chargesheet the NIA submitted in December 2025. In its main chargesheet, the NIA named LeT and TRF as terrorist organisations. This is the first time LeT has been charged as a legal entity in such a case. The NIA says the chargesheet is based on evidence collected through scientific investigation and on-site examination.
The chargesheet also listed several individuals, including commander of LeT and TRF, such as Habibullah Malik, also known as Sajid Jatt, Saifullah, or Sajid Saifullah Jatt, as a key handler and mastermind.
The document described a conspiracy planned in Pakistan, supported by digital records, forensic analysis, human intelligence, and the recovery of weapons and communication devices linked to Pakistan. It further describes the use of safe houses in Pakistan and local support networks in Jammu and Kashmir.
The latest supplementary chargesheet names Hafiz Saeed and provides more details about Pakistan’s involvement and his role in planning and directing the attack from across the border. The NIA says the attack was carried out by terrorists sponsored by Pakistan and linked to LeT and TRF.
On April 22, 2025, three armed men attacked tourists at Baisaran meadows near Pahalgam in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir. The attackers, who carried M4 carbines and AK-47 rifles, targeted male tourists after asking about their religion and forcing some to recite Islamic verses. A local Muslim pony operator was also killed.
During the investigation, the NIA questioned more than 2,800 people, detained several suspects, and found incriminating evidence. Three attackers were later killed in encounters. The agency also requested legal help from China to trace the supply chain of electronic devices, including a phone connected to the attack.
The case is still under investigation, and the NIA says it is reviewing more evidence. This filing comes nearly 14 months after the attack, which led to strong diplomatic and security actions from India, including cross-border strikes on terror sites in Pakistan.
