A special NIA court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant against Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, in connection with the April 2026 Pahalgam terror attack.
The order was passed on July 8, 2026, after the court noted that Saeed has been deliberately evading arrest and that custodial interrogation is necessary for a fair investigation.
The warrant was issued under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The NIA is expected to move next to declare him a proclaimed offender, paving the way for trial in absentia.
The Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2026, killed 26 people, mostly tourists, and was the deadliest strike in Jammu & Kashmir since Pulwama in 2019. Saeed, already designated a global terrorist by India, the US, and the UN, is accused of masterminding the attack through proxy outfits.
