A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant against Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Saifullah Kasuri, who has been linked to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists, including one Nepali national.
The warrant was issued as part of the investigation into a LeT module allegedly headed by Pakistani terrorist Abdullah, alias Abu Hureira. The NIA has already arrested Abdullah, another Pakistani national, Usman alias Khubaib, and three local overground workers allegedly linked to the network.
According to the NIA's submissions before the court, Saifullah was a key link between the Pakistan-based LeT leadership and terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Investigators alleged that he supplied arms and funds and provided real-time operational directions to militants active in the Valley.
Digital trail strengthens case against Saifullah
Investigators recovered Telegram IDs allegedly linked to Saifullah from one of the arrested Pakistani terrorists. According to the NIA, the digital trail contained explicit instructions to target security forces, civilians and government establishments in Jammu and Kashmir.
Taking cognisance of the material presented by the agency, the Special Court issued the non-bailable warrant and forwarded it to the competent authorities for execution through the NIA.
Saifullah is a native of Changa Manga in Pakistan's Kasur district and has allegedly operated under several aliases, including Sajid Jatt, Ali Bhai, Habibullah Malik, Langda, Noomi, Numan, Usman Habib and Shani.
He has remained on the radar of Indian security agencies for more than two decades as an alleged key handler of LeT operations from Pakistan.
Former south Kashmir commander
According to the investigation, Saifullah previously operated as an LeT commander in south Kashmir's Kulgam district between 2005 and 2007. He subsequently exfiltrated to Pakistan, from where investigators allege he continued to coordinate terror activities.
The agency's investigation into the LeT module has brought several alleged operatives and facilitators under scrutiny. Abdullah, alias Abu Hureira, and Usman, alias Khubaib, are among the Pakistani nationals arrested in the case, while three local overground workers have also been taken into custody.
The recovery of the alleged Telegram IDs has provided investigators with a digital trail that they say connects Saifullah to operational activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
NIA expands probe into cross-border terror network
The latest court action comes amid an intensified NIA investigation into Pakistan-based terror networks and their alleged support structures in Jammu and Kashmir.
The agency has been examining the role of Pakistan-based LeT handlers, local facilitators and overground workers in the Pahalgam attack and related terror activities.
The April 2025 attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran area killed 26 people, most of them tourists. The subsequent investigation has focused on identifying those involved in the planning, financing, logistics and execution of the attack, as well as alleged handlers operating from across the border.
The non-bailable warrant against Saifullah marks another step in the investigation into the alleged command structure behind the attack and the wider LeT network operating from Pakistan.