Authorities suspect that the mastermind behind the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, is Saifullah Sajid Jutt, a top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist group. Jutt, a Pakistani national, is believed to have strong ties with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and military officials. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has previously flagged him as a hardened extremist. Reports suggest that Saifullah is currently operating from LeT's headquarters in Islamabad.
Details surrounding the Pahalgam attack suggest a coordinated and brutal assault. The terrorists, emerging from the surrounding mountainous regions, allegedly demanded identification cards from the tourists in an apparent effort to separate Muslims from non-Muslims. Afterward, they opened fire on the men for approximately five minutes, resulting in the deaths of 26 innocent tourists.
During investigations, authorities recovered AK-47 rifle cartridges and armor-piercing bullets at the scene, indicating the highly organized nature of the attack. The Indian Army has condemned the assault as a cowardly act targeting vulnerable civilians, further fueling the resolve to tackle terrorism in the region.
