Pahalgam Terror Probe: Gunfire Used to Flee Scene, ISI Suspected of Deploying New Covert Module

Pahalgam Terror Probe: Witness Confirms Firing During Escape, ISI Suspected of Using New Lashkar Module.

The NIA’s investigation into the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack has uncovered fresh details, including testimony from a local witness who saw the terrorists firing into the air as they fled the Baisaran Valley after the massacre that left 26 civilians dead.

The witness, now under protection, recalled that the terrorists asked him to recite the Kalma—a tactic previously reported by survivors, suggesting they were using religious profiling to spare locals. Officials confirmed that spent cartridges were recovered from the site, backing the account.

According to intelligence sources, the NIA has identified three Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives involved in the attack—all Pakistani nationals. One of them, Hashim Musa, is believed to be a former Pakistani army soldier and the suspected mastermind behind the Sonmarg Z-Modh tunnel blast that killed six labourers and a doctor earlier this year.

The other two attackers have no prior criminal records or known affiliations, leading agencies to believe they were recently infiltrated into Kashmir. Officials suspect this is part of an ISI-driven strategy to launch attacks using new operatives, minimizing links to existing local terror networks or known Over Ground Workers (OGWs) to maintain secrecy.

The breakthrough came after the custodial interrogation of two harbourers—Parvaiz Ahmed and Bashir Ahmad—who helped shelter the attackers. Their testimonies have helped the NIA piece together the escape route and identify the assailants.

Initial intelligence suggested the presence of 3 to 5 attackers, but investigators have now confirmed three Lashkar operatives were directly involved.