New Delhi, May 02 (V7N) – India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has submitted a preliminary report indicating a direct operational link between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in connection with the deadly terror attack in Baisaran, Pahalgam on April 22.

According to Indian media outlet NDTV, the NIA report reveals that the attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people—mostly tourists—was orchestrated by Lashkar-e-Taiba under instructions from senior ISI officials. Intelligence gathered suggests the attack was part of a pre-planned operation, reportedly organized at LeT’s Pakistan-based headquarters.

The two prime suspects identified in the case, Hashmi Musa alias Suleman and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai, have been confirmed as Pakistani nationals. Interrogation of detainees has revealed that the assailants were in regular contact with handlers in Pakistan, receiving specific directives on weapon supplies and operational execution.

The NIA also confirmed that the militants infiltrated Indian territory weeks prior to the attack. A well-established network of overground workers in the region provided them with logistical support, including shelter, intelligence gathering, and guidance on local terrain.

Investigators have gathered extensive forensic and electronic evidence, including over 40 bullet cartridges recovered from the crime scene, which have been sent for ballistic and chemical analysis. A 3D mapping of the attack site was completed, and mobile tower dump data from the area has been collected.

Significantly, an unusual spike in satellite phone activity was recorded in the Baisaran area the day before the attack. At least three such phones were operational in the region, with signal data from two already analyzed. These satellite phones, resembling regular mobile devices, operate via satellites and are preferred for communication in remote or forested areas.

The investigation points to the use of Chinese-manufactured satellite phones and encrypted mobile applications by the attackers. These apps reportedly use end-to-end encryption and a "quantum resistance algorithm," making them nearly impossible to breach—even by quantum computing technologies. The apps enable ultra-fast communication, allowing the exchange of information within milliseconds, making them ideal for covert operations.

The NIA continues its investigation, focusing on decoding the encrypted communications and tracing the full extent of foreign involvement in one of the deadliest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent times.

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