SRINAGAR: A special NIA court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant against Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Saifullah, whom the National Investigation Agency has linked to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack and other attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
The warrant was issued on September 8 after the NIA told the court that Saifullah was operating from Pakistan and allegedly supplying weapons, funds and directions to operatives in Kashmir.
Saifullah, a resident of Changa Manga in Pakistan’s Kasur district, is also known by several aliases, including Sajid Jatt, Ali Bhai, Habibullah Malik, Langda, Noomi, Numan, Usman Habib and Shani. The NIA has described him as a key figure in Lashkar-e-Taiba’s operations and said he has remained active for more than two decades.
The case came to light after Jammu and Kashmir Police intercepted a Lashkar operative in Srinagar’s Pandach area in March. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Pakistani national Abdullah alias Abu Hureira, another Pakistani operative, Usman alias Khubaib, and three local operatives, according to officials.
The NIA told the court that Abdullah had remained on the run for 16 years and had established bases outside Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the agency, communications linked to Saifullah were recovered from one of the arrested Pakistani operatives. The NIA claimed these communications showed that Saifullah was providing directions for attacks targeting security personnel, civilians and government establishments.
The agency has also named Saifullah as a designated terrorist under the Fourth Schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and alleged that he continued to operate from Pakistan while directing activities in the Kashmir Valley.
After examining the NIA’s application and the material placed before it, the court issued the non-bailable warrant, noting that the accused was absconding and could not be brought before the court through ordinary means.
The warrant has been forwarded to the SSP Kulgam for execution as Saifullah’s last known address in Jammu and Kashmir is recorded as Yamrach in South Kashmir.
The NIA has further stated that Saifullah had operated as a Lashkar commander in Kulgam between 2005 and 2007 before crossing over to Pakistan.
The agency had earlier chargesheeted Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba/TRF and other accused in the Pahalgam attack case, alleging a Pakistan-based conspiracy behind the April 2025 attack.
