ISLAMABAD: India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday announced the arrest of two men in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, accusing them of aiding the gunmen behind a deadly attack on civilians that led to a four-day conflict between India and Pakistan in April 2025.
According to NIA, the two suspects, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, are residents of the Pahalgam area, where gunmen killed 26 people, mainly tourists, on April 22. The agency claims that the duo provided logistical support, food, and shelter to the attackers, who allegedly targeted the tourists based on their religious identity.
The NIA further stated that the suspects had revealed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack. However, New Delhi has accused Pakistan of being involved in the attack, a claim that Islamabad has consistently denied, without providing any public evidence to substantiate the allegation.
The killings triggered a series of retaliatory diplomatic actions between the two nuclear-armed nations, escalating tensions. The subsequent four-day conflict involved intense exchanges of missile, drone, and artillery fire, resulting in more than 70 deaths on both sides.
The arrest of the two men is expected to fuel further tensions between the two countries, as diplomatic relations remain strained following the violent outbreak in April.
