Pahalgam Terror Attack Case: NIA To Send Court Summons to Hafiz Saeed Through MEA
NIA is preparing to serve a formal court summons to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed regarding his alleged involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack. The process will be executed through the Ministry of External Affairs, directing Saeed to appear for trial before a special NIA court in Jammu.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to send a court summons to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed in connection with the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack case, in which 26 people were killed. The summons will be routed through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and will direct the Pakistan-based accused to appear before a special NIA court in Jammu. A non-bailable warrant has already been issued against Saeed, whom the NIA has accused of being one of the key masterminds behind the attack, India Today reported.
Summons to Be Routed Through MEA
The latest step is part of the legal process to secure Saeed's appearance before the Jammu court. Since he is based in Pakistan, the summons will be transmitted through diplomatic channels via the MEA. If Saeed does not appear after the prescribed legal procedures are completed, the court could eventually proceed with the case in his absence under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Who is Hafiz Talha Saeed? The Lashkar-e-Taiba Leader Steering the Group's Operations.
Hafiz Saeed Named in Supplementary Chargesheet
The NIA named Saeed as an accused in a supplementary chargesheet filed in July. The agency has arraigned him both in his individual capacity and as the head of the banned LeT and its proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF).
According to the NIA, the charges include waging war against India and conspiracy linked to the attack. The agency has alleged that the wider conspiracy was planned from Pakistan and that Saeed played a role in directing the operation. These are allegations made by the investigating agency and will be tested through the judicial process. Pahalgam Terror Attack: India Presents Case at UNSC, Seeks ‘Terrorist Organisation’ Tag for the Resistance Front.
What the NIA Chargesheet Says
The supplementary chargesheet was filed as an extension of the NIA's original 1,597-page chargesheet. It contains details that the agency says establish the alleged Pakistan-based conspiracy, Saeed's role and evidence gathered during the investigation.
The original chargesheet, filed on December 15, 2025, named Pakistan-based LeT operative Sajid Jatt, three terrorists who were subsequently killed during Operation Mahadev in July 2025, and two arrested accused. The NIA also named LeT and TRF in the case.
Pahalgam Attack Killed 26
The attack took place on April 22, 2025, when terrorists opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. Twenty-six people, including 25 tourists and a local resident, were killed. The case was initially registered by the Pahalgam Police before the Union Home Ministry transferred the investigation to the NIA.
Trial in Absentia Could Follow
Under Section 356 of the BNSS, courts can conduct proceedings against certain proclaimed offenders in their absence when the prescribed legal conditions are met, including circumstances where the accused has evaded the trial and there is no immediate prospect of arrest.
The latest summons is therefore an important procedural step before any trial in absentia can begin. The court must complete the required legal process before deciding whether proceedings can continue without Saeed's physical presence. For now, the NIA is moving ahead with the summons through diplomatic channels while the broader investigation into the Pahalgam attack continues.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2026 06:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
