The recent arrest follows a forensic analysis of weapons and equipment seized during Operation Mahadev, conducted in July. During this operation, security forces neutralised three terrorists responsible for the deaths of 26 civilians in Pahalgam, according to IANS.
Earlier, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is also probing the case, arrested Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar from Hill Park, Pahalgam. Both men allegedly provided shelter and food to the terrorists and revealed their identities during interrogation, as reported by IANS.
In a separate development, the NIA detained an individual from Handwara as part of its investigation into the funding of the attack. The probe has widened significantly, with the agency scrutinising 450 phone numbers. Many of these are linked to 80 ongoing cases under investigation by the NIA since 2011.
Investigations revealed that Yasir Hayat had been in contact with Sajad Ahmed Mir, a suspected Pakistani handler based in Malaysia, along with two other Pakistani nationals. Mir reportedly instructed Hayat to transfer ₹2 lakh to Shafat Wani, a known operative. In total, Wani is believed to have received ₹9 lakh, which was used to finance terror operations.
The NIA stated that it had traced a foreign funding trail connected to accounts in Malaysia. This is part of a complex international network used to finance terrorist activities. These funds were being channelled to The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy created by Pakistan’s ISI to promote the narrative that the Kashmir militancy is an indigenous movement.
The creation of TRF also offers plausible deniability to both Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Taiba for attacks carried out on Indian soil. Indian intelligence agencies, the Jammu & Kashmir Police, and the NIA are jointly compiling a comprehensive dossier on TRF. This dossier will include details on its funding mechanisms, recruitment, radicalisation, and training operations.
The dossier is expected to play a crucial role in India’s diplomatic efforts to hold Pakistan accountable at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). India intends to push for Pakistan’s return to the Grey List, citing its continued support for terror financing through proxy outfits like TRF.
