Was There Any Local Involvement in the Pahalgam Terror Attack?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- No local involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack, according to Omar Abdullah.
- All perpetrators were identified as foreign nationals.
- Investigation ongoing by the NIA, with arrests made for sheltering terrorists.
- Concerns expressed for students studying abroad amidst conflict.
- Call for a ceasefire in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.
Srinagar, June 24 (NationPress) - The Chief Minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah, stated on Tuesday that no locals participated in the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, comprising 25 tourists and a local Kashmiri on April 22.
“There was no local involvement in the April 22 Pahalgam terror incident. All the perpetrators were foreigners,” the Chief Minister remarked after initiating a cyclothon at the Gulmarg tourist destination, which aims to promote youth engagement in sports and environmentally sustainable tourism in the renowned ski resort, also referred to as the ‘Meadow of Flowers’ in Kashmir.
Regarding the ongoing investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has apprehended two locals for allegedly sheltering the attackers, the Chief Minister mentioned that it’s plausible these individuals acted under pressure.
“While they did provide sustenance to the terrorists, it may have been under duress. The investigation should proceed, and once completed, the charge sheet along with other legal actions will be submitted by the NIA,” he added.
Touching on the conflict between Iran and Israel, he emphasized the pressing need for a durable ceasefire.
“The sooner a ceasefire is established, the better. This conflict has persisted for 12 days and resulted in extensive damage,” he stated, expressing concern for the safety of students from Jammu and Kashmir studying in the affected region.
“We were particularly worried about our children studying there. At times, flights encountered difficulties due to airspace closures, but today we are optimistic that a significant number of our students will return,” he noted.
In related developments, a Jammu court on Monday placed the two locals accused of harboring the terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack into NIA custody for a duration of five days.