Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD):Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday stated that the recent terror attack in Pahalgam—which claimed 26 innocent lives on April 22—was carried out entirely by foreign terrorists, and that no local individual was directly involved in the planning or execution of the attack.
Speaking to reporters during a media interaction in Gulmarg, the Chief Minister said the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is leading the investigation, has so far arrested two individuals accused of providing shelter to the attackers.
“Preliminary findings suggest that those who offered food or shelter to the terrorists may have done so under duress or fear. The investigation is ongoing, and we must allow the NIA to complete its work and file a chargesheet before drawing conclusions,” Omar Abdullah said.
He urged people not to jump to assumptions and reiterated that the administration would ensure that justice is served through proper legal channels.
Turning to international developments, the Chief Minister also expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, which has directly affected students from Jammu and Kashmir studying in the region.
“The sooner a ceasefire is achieved, the better. The conflict has already caused immense destruction over the past 12 days,” he said. “Our priority was to bring our students home. Evacuation flights faced challenges due to restricted airspace, but we are hopeful that a large batch will return today, completing the process.”
The Jammu and Kashmir government had earlier coordinated with central agencies to ensure the safe return of students studying in Iran, many of whom were stranded amid escalating tensions(DD)