A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu is set to issue summons to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed in connection with the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed.
Saeed has been named as an accused in the NIA’s supplementary chargesheet and is alleged by the agency to have played a key role in the conspiracy behind the attack. Since he is based in Pakistan, the summons will be sent through India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
The court has already issued a non-bailable warrant against Saeed.
Trial Could Move Ahead Without Hafiz Saeed
If Saeed fails to appear after all required legal procedures are completed, the court could eventually begin proceedings against him in absentia under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
The provision allows courts to conduct proceedings against proclaimed offenders who have deliberately remained outside the reach of the law and are unlikely to be arrested in the immediate future.
However, a trial in absentia cannot begin immediately. The court must first complete prescribed procedures, including issuing two consecutive arrest warrants and publishing a notice requiring the accused to appear.
At least 90 days must also pass after charges are framed before such a trial can commence. If the accused does not have legal representation, the state is required to arrange an advocate to defend him.
Hafiz Saeed Named In NIA Supplementary Chargesheet
The NIA named Saeed in a supplementary chargesheet filed in July, accusing him both in his individual capacity and as the founder of the banned LeT and alleged head of its proxy organisation, The Resistance Front (TRF).
The agency has invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The allegations include conspiracy and waging war against India, with investigators claiming that the planning was coordinated from Pakistan.
The supplementary chargesheet builds on the NIA’s earlier 1,597-page chargesheet and sets out the agency’s allegations regarding the Pakistan-based conspiracy, the role of handlers and evidence gathered during the investigation.
According to the NIA, the attack involved a network comprising Pakistan-based handlers, foreign terrorists and local logistical support.
What Happened In Pahalgam?
The attack took place on April 22, 2025, when terrorists targeted tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack left 25 tourists and one local resident dead.
The investigation was initially registered by the Pahalgam Police before being transferred to the NIA by the Union Home Ministry.
Investigators have alleged that the victims were targeted based on their religious identity, with the attackers allegedly seeking to trigger communal tensions and undermine tourism in Kashmir.
Original Chargesheet Named Seven Accused
The NIA’s original chargesheet, filed on December 15, 2025, named seven accused, including alleged Pakistan-based handler Sajid Jatt and the banned LeT/TRF.
Three Pakistani terrorists — Faisal Jatt alias Suleman Shah, Habeeb Tahir alias Jibran and Hamza Afghani — were also named. All three were later killed by security forces during Operation Mahadev in Dachigam in July 2025.
Two local residents, Parvaiz Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad Jothad, were arrested over allegations that they provided assistance and shelter to the terrorists.
The accused have been booked under provisions of the BNS, Arms Act and UAPA, with the NIA alleging that the wider conspiracy was directed from Pakistan.
NIA Examines Alleged Local Support Network
A major part of the investigation has focused on how the attackers allegedly received local assistance after entering the region.
The agency has alleged that the operation relied on a combination of Pakistan-based handlers, foreign terrorists and local individuals who allegedly helped with shelter, transportation and other logistical requirements.
The NIA has also described TRF as a proxy organisation of LeT, alleging that its use was intended to conceal the involvement of the Pakistan-based terror group.
With Saeed now named in the supplementary chargesheet, the Jammu court’s proposed summons marks another step in the legal proceedings. If he does not appear and the statutory requirements are fulfilled, the court could eventually consider conducting the trial without his physical presence.
