NIA Charges Lashkar-e-Taiba Chief Hafiz Saeed in Pahalgam Terror Attack Case

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has named Hafiz Saeed, the chief of the Pakistan-based banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as an accused in the Pahalgam terror attack case. The chargesheet was filed before the Special NIA Court in Jammu.

According to the NIA, Saeed—who has been designated a global terrorist by India, the United States, and the United Nations Security Council, and is regarded as the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks—was involved in the conspiracy both in his personal capacity and as the head of Lashkar-e-Taiba and its proxy outfit, The Resistance Front (TRF). He has been charged under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).

Along with naming Hafiz Saeed as an accused, the chargesheet also details the alleged role of Pakistan in the terror attack.

The NIA had earlier filed a 1,597-page main chargesheet in the case before the Special NIA Court in December last year. The supplementary chargesheet elaborates on Hafiz Saeed's involvement as well as Pakistan's role in planning and supporting the attack. It also includes scientific and forensic evidence collected by the NIA from the attack site.

Hafiz Saeed is widely regarded as the principal architect of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed the lives of 166 people.

According to investigators, Saeed established organisations such as Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) to raise funds for terrorist activities and evade international sanctions. In addition to being designated a global terrorist by India and the US, he has also been listed as a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.