Drug Money Funds Terror: Rs 21,000 Crore Link to Pahalgam Attack

NEW DELHI (India CSR): In a chilling revelation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has exposed a direct link between a massive drug seizure at Gujarat’s Mundra Port and the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025. The agency’s findings, shared with the Supreme Court, show how Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) used profits from a Rs 21,000 crore heroin consignment to fund the attack that killed 28 tourists. This story of drugs fueling violence paints a grim picture of how narco-trafficking is bankrolling terrorism, leaving families shattered and a nation determined to fight back.

A Massive Heroin Bust at Mundra Port

In 2021, authorities seized nearly 3,000 kg of heroin, valued at Rs 21,000 crore, at Mundra Port in Gujarat. Hidden as talc powder and shipped from Afghanistan through Iran, the drugs were part of a sophisticated smuggling operation. The NIA revealed that this consignment was orchestrated by LeT to generate funds for terrorism. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the Supreme Court that the money from selling these drugs was used to buy weapons and plan attacks, including the Pahalgam massacre. The drugs were stored in Delhi warehouses, ready to be distributed to Indian youth, aiming to both addict and destabilize.

The Pahalgam Tragedy

On April 22, 2025, at 1:30 pm, the picturesque Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam became a scene of horror. Six armed terrorists, wearing military uniforms, attacked tourists, killing 28 people. Survivors described how the attackers asked victims to recite Islamic verses, targeting those who couldn’t. The Resistance Front, linked to LeT, initially claimed responsibility but later retracted, adding to the confusion. The attack, one of the deadliest since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, shocked the nation and raised concerns about security in tourist areas.

Who Were the Attackers?

The NIA has identified four suspects: Aadil Guree from Anantnag, Aasif Shaikh from Sopore, and two Pakistani nationals, Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai, using code names like Moosa and Yunus. Sketches of these terrorists have been released, and a blurry image of an armed man with an AK-47, matching survivor accounts, has surfaced. The NIA alleges that LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, with support from Pakistan’s ISI, planned the attack. Security forces are conducting widespread searches in Pahalgam to track down the perpetrators.

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Security Failures and Response

Despite checkpoints and patrols, the terrorists infiltrated Pahalgam, exposing gaps in security. The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps has launched a massive operation in the Baisaran valley, but the attackers remain at large. On April 25, 2025, security forces killed a top LeT commander, Altaf Lalli, in Bandipora, and demolished the homes of two suspects in Anantnag and Pulwama. Meanwhile, an infiltration attempt was foiled at the Line of Control in Baramulla on April 23, where 2-3 terrorists were repelled after a firefight, highlighting ongoing cross-border threats.

The Narco-Terror Connection

The NIA’s investigation shows how LeT used drug trafficking to fund terrorism. The Mundra heroin was meant to generate profits for buying arms and planning attacks like Pahalgam. The operation involved Afghan suppliers, Iranian middlemen, and Pakistani handlers, revealing a global narco-terror network. The agency warned that such trafficking not only funds violence but also targets Indian youth with addiction, aiming to weaken society from within. This case, the largest drug seizure in India’s history, underscores the urgent need to combat this dual threat.

India’s Firm Stand

The Pahalgam attack has strained India-Pakistan relations further. India responded by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, revoking Pakistani visas, and expelling Pakistan’s diplomats on April 24, 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to bring the culprits to justice, while Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif called the attack a “false flag” by India, a claim dismissed as baseless. The UN Security Council and countries like Sri Lanka and the UK condemned the attack, urging accountability.

A Nation United in Grief

The Pahalgam attack has left India mourning, with communities holding candlelight vigils in Srinagar and beyond. The Gujarat government announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for families of victims from the state, and the National Stock Exchange pledged Rs 1 crore for all affected families. As the NIA continues its probe, analyzing evidence and survivor accounts, India remains resolute in dismantling the narco-terror nexus. The link between the Mundra drug bust and the Pahalgam attack is a stark reminder of the lengths terrorists will go to destabilize the nation—and the strength it will take to stop them.

(India CSR)