On 22 June 2025, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar in Pahalgam. It accused them of facilitating three terrorists of the 22 April attack that resulted in the death of 26 and injury of 16 Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives. Their families and residents denounce such allegations, claiming that they had gone to Pahalgam for some legitimate concern. Critics believe that the agency has been exercising its power to suppress the voices of any opposition instead of implementing practical counter-terrorism efforts. Though, according to Indian officials, Operation Sindoor is not over, and news reports some false-flag operations and escalation in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

Since 2019, the NIA in India has arrested more than 400 people under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). These people include well-known pro-freedom activists, human rights advocates, and journalists. In 2022, NIA held at least 173 Kashmiris in preventive detention without trial. Amnesty International reported 136 raids in Kashmir, often targeting civilian domains. NIA's practices have been compared to Al-Qaeda and Daesh's terror camps due to unjust arrests or false charges. The recent arrests of Parvaiz and Bashir Jothar reinforce allegations of a loss of the rule of law under the guise of national security. Reputable justice remains impossible.

Families and neighbors in Kashmir are refuting the NIA's claim that Parvaiz and Bashir Jothar were terror facilitators, claiming they went to Pahalgam to work. This denial is echoed in the 2019 UAPA case in IIOJK, where over 40 political charges were opened against over 400 civilians. These arrests are seen as a pattern of arrest and intimidation to create fear and discourage opposition to freedom. New Delhi is accused of setting another misadventure in Azad Jammu and Kashmir into Pakistan.

Indian authorities caution that Operation Sindoor is not over, so it can be suspected in another false-flag attack planned by New Delhi. In the meantime, the National Investigation Agency, having the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act with no oversight of the courts, is engaging in arbitrary arrests and extending custody in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The observers think the government could use the brewing Iran crisis in order to attack Pakistan once again. Analysts emphasize that Pakistan should not be at rest to prevent such a May 7-type of attack, as it touched the lives of civilians. The analysts warn that a fresh attack would cause regional unrest in addition to the unstable conflict between Iran and Israel and destabilize South Asia further.

In the case of the NIA, independent monitors caution that its methods are more likely to resemble those of state militias rather than those of legitimate organizations. Analysts have argued that its free application of the UAPA and foreign-funding regulations has allowed it to detain people without charge arbitrarily, conduct lengthy preventive detention and restrict political opinion in Indian-administered Kashmir and beyond. In the absence of solid evidence or court supervision, officials have confiscated devices without providing replica versions.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and watchdogs have reported incidents of false accusations against human rights defenders, journalists, students, and academics, fixation of devices, and incursion on civilians. The Muslim Kashmiri leader Khurram Parvez, ascribed to terror connections by Delhi journalists and fringe leadership among students, topped the list of high-profile targets. The opponents say attributing peaceful critics as terrorists has now become a standard silencer tool.

The decisional capacity granted to the NIA in Indian-administered Kashmir has undermined lawfulness and suppressed dissent. High-profile detainees, including Khurram Parvez and the Jothar brothers, have been exposed for doctored evidence and lengthy investigations. The next phase of Operation Sindoor, along with attempts to gain political advantage from regional crises, is an indicator of additional national security movements. Stakeholders should insist on reforms in the UAPA, court supervision over NIA actions, and the invitation of independent international observers to address instability. Transparency of accountability, reinforced legality, and community involvement are essential for restoring peace prospects and stability in Kashmir.

Abdul Mussawer Safi has pursued a master's degree in International Relations. His research domain primarily lies in the regional dynamics of South Asia, with a focus on strategic and terrorism studies. Safi has worked as a correspondent with various media outlets and think tanks, including the International Policy Digest (IPD) and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in Islamabad.