Lashkar-e-Taiba Chief Hafiz Saeed Named Accused in Pahalgam Terror Attack; NIA Includes Name in Charge Sheet

Pahalgam: Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed has been named as an accused in the Pahalgam terror attack case. On Monday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a supplementary charge sheet regarding the attack, naming the Pakistan-based terrorist Hafiz Saeed as an accused. The NIA filed the charge sheet in a special court in Jammu. Hafiz Saeed faces allegations of personal involvement in the attack. Additionally, the banned organization Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliate, The Resistance Front (TRF), played a pivotal role in the attack; Hafiz Saeed holds a significant position within both these organizations.

Charges have been brought against Hafiz Saeed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. In the charge sheet, the NIA has invoked penal provisions against Saeed for waging war against India and orchestrating a cross-border conspiracy. The 1,597-page charge sheet details the Pakistani conspiracy, Saeed’s role, and the evidence gathered by the NIA through an intensive scientific investigation and ground-level inquiries.

Charges Against Sajid Jatt as Well
In its previous charge sheet filed on December 15, 2025, the NIA had named Pakistani handler Sajid Jatt as an accused. That charge sheet also included the names of three terrorists killed by security forces during ‘Operation Mahadev’ in July 2025, as well as two arrested accused individuals. Furthermore, the banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba/TRF was charged as a legal entity for its role in planning, facilitating, and executing the Pahalgam terror attack. Terrorist Attack in Pahalgam on April 22
On April 22, 2025, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists attacked tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The terrorists killed individuals after inquiring about their religion. Twenty-five innocent tourists and one local citizen lost their lives in the incident. The terrorists killed fathers and husbands in front of their wives and children.

An FIR regarding this matter was initially registered at the Pahalgam police station. Subsequently, the Ministry of Home Affairs handed the case over to the NIA. The statement noted that Pakistan is actively sponsoring terrorism on Indian soil from across the border. In light of this, the NIA is continuing its investigation to expose the entire conspiracy hatched by Pakistan.