“It is manifest that the accused, Yasin Malik, was in contact with the top leadership of Pakistan, including the Prime Minister, the President, senators of the Pakistani Senate, and the Chief Ministers of all provinces, and was using such contacts to propagate narratives against India and to further the secessionist agenda in Jammu & Kashmir,” the NIA said in its affidavit filed before the High Court.

As per the affidavit, Malik’s claims about proximity to senior Indian politicians, foreign delegates, bureaucrats and media persons is for gaining popularity and drawing sympathy from the public. 

Mere mention of senior politicians and bureaucrats does not negate the fact that Malik had links with militants like Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen’s Syed Salahuddin, the agency contended.

“It is humbly submitted that the convict himself has admitted that he was the Commander-in-Chief of JKLF [Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front]. Rest of the matters related to taking names of Senior Politicians, Media personnel, foreign delegates and Bureaucrats is only with a view of gaining popularity and to draw sympathy of the public and has no bearing to the merit of the instant case,” the NIA affidavit said. 

Srinagar, Apr 22: Marking one year since the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead, the Indian Army on Wednesday reaffirmed its resolve against terrorism, recalling its response under Operation Sindoor and warning of assured retaliation against any acts targeting India.

On April 22, 2025, terrorists opened fire in the tourist town of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 civilians and triggering widespread condemnation across the country. The attack, carried out in a popular tourist destination, had left the entire nation shaken.

In a post on X, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) of the Indian Army said, “For acts against India, the response is assured. Justice will be served. Always.”

The post was accompanied by a graphic referring to Operation Sindoor, which read, “Operation Sindoor continues…”

Notably, the Army had launched Operation Sindoor following the attack, which officials described as a calibrated military response targeting terror infrastructure across the border. —(KNO)

Srinagar, April 22: Prime Minister Narenda Modi, on the first anniversary of Pahalgam terror attack, paid tributes to the innocent lives lost in the gruesome act of terrorism, saying “they (the victims) will never be forgotten”.

“Remembering the innocent lives lost in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack on this day last year. They will never be forgotten. My thoughts are also with the bereaved families as they cope with this loss,” the PM stated.

PM Modi said the whole nations stands united in grief and resolve.

“India will never bow to any form of terror,” he said, adding that the heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed.

In a post on X, the PM wrote, “Remembering the innocent lives lost in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack on this day last year. They will never be forgotten. My thoughts are also with the bereaved families as they cope with this loss. As a nation, we stand united in grief and resolve. India will never bow to any form of terror. The heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed.”

Remembering the innocent lives lost in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack on this day last year. They will never be forgotten. My thoughts are also with the bereaved families as they cope with this loss.

As a nation, we stand united in grief and resolve. India will never bow to…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2026

Pertinently, on April 22 last year, terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam in south Kashmir, triggering nationwide outrage.