NIA Names Hafiz Saeed as Mastermind in Pahalgam Terror Attack Chargesheet

New Delhi: On July 6, 2026, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took a major legal step by filing a supplementary chargesheet against Hafiz Saeed, the founder of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The filing, submitted before the Special NIA Court in Jammu, names Saeed as the principal mastermind behind the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025.

The chargesheet names Saeed both in his individual capacity and as the head of the banned LeT and its proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF). The NIA has invoked several stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The specific charges include waging war against India, criminal conspiracy, and other terrorism-related offences directed from across the border.

This supplementary document expands upon the evidence presented in the initial 1,597-page chargesheet filed on December 15, 2025. The NIA stated that the latest filing incorporates fresh evidence gathered through meticulous scientific analysis, forensic examinations, and extensive on-ground investigations. 

The underlying incident occurred at the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, where terrorists opened fire on a group of civilians. The attack resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including 25 tourists from various parts of India and a local pony operator. It was also later revealed that the victims were allegedly segregated based on their religion before the shooters opened fire, sparking nationwide outrage and subsequent military responses.

The NIA's probe has highlighted the cross-border nature of the plot. Technical analysis showed that the TRF initially claimed responsibility for the massacre on digital platforms before issuing a denial after facing global condemnation. Forensic tracking identified that the IP addresses for these communications were located in Rawalpindi and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The agency further alleged that the attackers used mobile phones and equipment, including a GoPro camera, that were routed through supply chains in Karachi and Lahore.

Previous filings in the case had already named Sajid Jatt as a key handler and identified three Pakistani terrorists Faisal Jatt, Habeeb Tahir, and Hamza Afghani who were later killed by security forces during Operation Mahadev in July 2025. Two local individuals, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, were also arrested for providing logistical support and harbouring the terrorists prior to the assault.

The NIA clarified that the investigation remains ongoing under case RC-02/2025/NIA/JMU. The agency is focused on uncovering the entire terror ecosystem, including financiers and other handlers operating from Pakistan. While immediate prosecution is unlikely as Saeed remains in Pakistan, the chargesheet is intended to formally fix criminal liability and strengthen India's legal case regarding the conspiracy.