A chilling investigation by the NIA has revealed that the brutal massacre of 26 tourists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley last year could have been averted. The tragedy was fueled by the betrayal of two locals, Parvez Ahmed and Bashir Ahmed Jothar, who harbored three Pakistani terrorists for a mere ₹3,000.
On the eve of the attack, the duo sheltered top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Ali Bhai and his associates. Despite noticing the terrorists’ sophisticated weaponry and distinct Pakistani dialects, the men provided them with dinner and supplies.
Most damningly, just hours before the slaughter, Parvez and Bashir spotted the trio lying in wait behind bushes in the valley. Instead of alerting the police or tour operators, they remained silent and fled the scene.
The NIA tracked down and arrested the pair on June 22, 2025, after they attempted to hide in the hills. The investigation confirms that their silence, bought by greed, paved the way for one of the region’s bloodiest attacks.