Fifteen Kashmiri Muslims assisted the Pahalgam assailants; India is neglecting the threat from within

Image: Jihad Watch

All five suspects were reportedly present near the attack site on the day of the incident, with cellphone records confirming their presence in the area. Electronic surveillance also uncovered a chat in which the detained individuals discussed assisting Pakistani terrorists in Pahalgam. Sources indicate that all 15 individuals from south Kashmir had been previously flagged by police due to their connections with terrorist networks, and are believed to have supported various attacks in the region over recent years.

Following the terror attack, some pro-Islamic voices in India began circulating stories that praised so-called “God-sent pony handlers” for allegedly risking their lives to rescue tourists. However, eyewitness accounts paint a different picture. Hindu tourist Rishi Bhatt, who narrowly escaped the targeted killings, shared a troubling encounter with a local zipline operator. Bhatt claimed that the operator, who is Muslim, seemed to anticipate the attack and, as gunfire erupted, reportedly chanted “Allahu akbar” three times with a broad smile. Bhatt recorded the incident, and authorities are now questioning the zipline operator.

Another female tourist has accused a local pony operator of harassment during her trip. She said the man repeatedly asked her about her religion, whether she had visited the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, and if she had read the Quran, even asking if she could read it in Hindi. The woman believes the man, identified as Ayaz Ahmed Jungal, may have been directly involved in the recent attack. She recalled that during the ride, he pulled out a phone hidden in his boot and was overheard saying he was “sending 35 people into the valley.” He reportedly added, “Plan A has failed,” and mentioned firearms. “That’s when I became really frightened,” she told authorities. Jungal has since been detained for questioning.

These accounts, shared by survivors who narrowly escaped death, starkly contrast the idealized narratives promoted by some, which downplay or romanticize Islamic violence.

The jihadist ideology that fueled the violent displacement of Kashmiri Pandits decades ago seems to persist among younger generations. Many in the region openly align with jihad groups targeting Hindu civilians. The funerals of jihadis killed by Indian forces often draw large crowds, and figures like Burhan Wani are idolized on social media, where calls for jihad and revenge continue to spread.

Security officials warn that these are not just foreign fighters infiltrating from across the border. In many cases, they are radicalized locals — Kashmiri Muslims — who have turned against their fellow citizens.

This is not the first instance of Kashmiri locals working in collaboration with jihadis responsible for deadly attacks on civilians and the Indian army. Their role in ethnic cleansing is widely acknowledged. The 2019 Pulwama attack, which killed 44 Army personnel, was carried out by Adil Ahmad Dar, a local youth supported by the Jaish-e-Mohammed.

In October 2021, the National Investigation Agency arrested four OGWs — Suhail Ahmad Thokar, Kamran Ashraf Reshi, Rayid Bashir, and Hanan Gulzar Dar — linked to various jihad terror organizations, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. They were involved in a conspiracy to carry out violent jihad acts in Jammu and Kashmir and other major cities.

In February 2022, the State Investigation Agency arrested ten individuals working as OGWs for the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed group. These individuals operated as sleeper cells in South and Central Kashmir, recruiting youth, arranging finances, and transporting weapons under the direction of JeM commanders.

In September 2023, J&K Police arrested Awseef Ramazan Bhat and Moien Amin Bhat, charging them with possession of a Chinese pistol, ammunition, and a hand grenade. Investigations revealed they were in contact with Pakistani handlers and planning attacks on security forces.

In July 2024, two local youths were arrested for assisting terrorists in an ambush on Army vehicles in Billawar, Kathua district, resulting in the deaths of five soldiers.

While the Modi administration is aware of the dangerous reality posed by local Kashmiri jihadis, public acknowledgment remains delicate. As the leader of a constitutionally secular nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi must navigate the balance between national security concerns and the country’s commitment to secular governance. But for how long can the evident reality be ignored?

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)