Kashmiri Locals' Failure to Report Terrorists Led to Deadly Pahalgam Massacre
Two Kashmiri residents currently imprisoned for their involvement in the horrific Pahalgam terror attack case could have single-handedly prevented the brutal massacre of April 22, 2025, that claimed 26 innocent civilian lives. Parvaiz Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad Jothad, who had harbored three Pakistani terrorists the night before the attack, possessed crucial information that might have saved numerous families from witnessing unimaginable horror.
Clear Warning Signs Ignored Before Attack
Around 12:30 PM on that fateful day, hours before the violence erupted, Parvaiz and Bashir spotted the three terrorists - later identified as Faisal Jatt alias Suleman Shah, Habeeb Tahir alias Jibran, and Hamza Afghani - hiding behind a fence at Baisaran. This sighting came after the attackers had visited the homes of both men the previous evening, where they conversed in an accented Urdu-Punjabi mixture while carrying sophisticated weapons.
Most alarmingly, the terrorists specifically mentioned "Ali Bhai," an alias used by prime accused Sajid Jatt, a top commander of Lashker-e-Taiba/The Resistance Front from Pakistan's Kasur area. Investigative sources confirm this made it abundantly clear to Parvaiz and Bashir that a terror attack in the region was imminent.
Financial Gain Over Public Safety
The investigation has uncovered disturbing details about the duo's motivations. Parvaiz and Bashir accepted Rs 3,000 from the terrorists in exchange for providing shelter and logistical support. Despite this financial transaction and their subsequent sighting of the armed terrorists, they chose complete silence when they could have easily:
- Contacted local police authorities immediately
- Alerted the tourist operators' association about terrorist presence
- Warned fellow residents and visitors in the area
Even after the terrorists departed their residence around 10:30 PM on April 21, 2025, following five hours of hospitality including meals, the duo maintained their silence. The terrorists had borrowed cooking vessels, blankets, and tarpaulin sheets while packing food for their journey.
Deliberate Inaction During Critical Hours
After spotting the terrorists at Baisaran, Parvaiz and Bashir simply moved to a distant location with their ponies, waiting for tourist customers to return. Between 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM, they transported tourists back to Pahalgam on their ponies, maintaining normal operations while armed terrorists prepared for attack nearby.
Only hours later, when news of the blood-curdling murders in Baisaran by the same terrorists they had sheltered reached them, did they take action - but not to help authorities. Instead, they abandoned their temporary mountain huts (dhoks) and went into hiding, demonstrating consciousness of guilt.
Investigation and International Connections
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) ultimately apprehended the duo on June 22, 2025. Both were chargesheeted in December 2025 alongside Sajid Jatt, the three deceased Pakistani attackers, and LeT/TRF as an organizational entity.
Agency sources revealed on Tuesday that Facebook investigations further confirmed Pakistani involvement in the Pahalgam terror conspiracy. The social media platform traced a misleading post circulated in India claiming "Jibran was our man" to Pakistani phone numbers registered in Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi.
This case highlights the tragic consequences when individuals prioritize personal gain over community safety, and underscores the sophisticated international networks behind regional terror activities.
