NIA to send court summons to Hafiz Saeed in Pahalgam terror attack case

India plans to issue court summons to Hafiz Saeed, the founder of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), through diplomatic channels in Pakistan. The move comes after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) identified Saeed as a key figure in the Pahalgam terror attack that occurred in April 2025. The summons will be transmitted to Pakistan’s foreign ministry via India’s Ministry of External Affairs, according to sources familiar with the matter. The NIA has highlighted Saeed’s leadership role in both LeT and a related organization known as The Resistance Front (TRF). A special NIA court in Jammu has already issued a non-bailable warrant for Saeed’s appearance in connection with the Pahalgam case. This follows a supplementary chargesheet filed in July 2025, which names Saeed individually and as the head of LeT and TRF. He faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, including waging war against India and conspiring with Pakistan-based operatives to execute the attack. The Pahalgam attack, which took place on April 22, 2025, resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and a local resident. The incident prompted the Pahalgam Police to register a case, which was later transferred to the NIA for further investigation. The original chargesheet, filed on December 15, 2025, listed seven accused, including a Pakistani handler named Sajid Jatt and the banned LeT/TRF as a legal entity. Three Pakistani terrorists, Faisal Jatt alias Suleman Shah, Habeeb Tahir alias Jibran, and Hamza Afghani, were killed by security forces during Operation Mahadev in Dachigam in July 2025. Two local residents, Parvaiz Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad Jothad, were arrested on suspicion of harboring the attackers. The NIA’s investigation into the Pahalgam attack has revealed an operational model involving Pakistan-based handlers, infiltrated militants, and local support networks. The agency alleges that TRF was used as a proxy for LeT to conceal the involvement of its parent organization based in Pakistan. Investigators claim that the attack was orchestrated to target tourists based on their religious identity, aiming to incite communal tensions and harm Kashmir’s tourism industry. If Saeed fails to respond to the summons, the NIA court may proceed with a trial in his absence under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. This provision allows courts to conduct trials and deliver judgments against individuals who have evaded legal processes and show no immediate likelihood of arrest. Before such a trial can commence, the court must issue two consecutive arrest warrants and publish notices requiring the accused to appear. Additionally, the court must wait 90 days from the framing of charges before proceeding. If Saeed is not represented by counsel, the state is obligated to appoint an advocate to defend him. The NIA’s supplementary chargesheet builds upon its initial 1,597-page document, detailing the alleged conspiracy involving Pakistani operatives, foreign terrorists, and local facilitators. The agency claims that the attack was part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region using a combination of external and internal resources. The focus of the investigation has shifted toward identifying those who planned, funded, and supported the operation, particularly emphasizing the role of Pakistan in orchestrating the violence. The issuance of summons to Saeed marks a significant step in India’s efforts to hold accountable those responsible for cross-border terrorism. While the legal process unfolds, the international implications remain unclear. Pakistan has historically denied involvement in such attacks, though it has occasionally expressed willingness to engage in dialogue over regional security concerns. As the NIA continues its probe, the response from Islamabad could shape the trajectory of bilateral relations and counter-terrorism cooperation between the two nations.