In a significant development in the ongoing investigation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated on Tuesday that no local involvement has been found in the execution of the deadly assault that killed 26 people. His remarks come shortly after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two individuals accused of providing support to the attackers.

“The biggest relief is that those who carried out the Pahalgam killings were not locals. All those who fired bullets and killed 26 innocent people were from outside,” Omar Abdullah told reporters during a press interaction in Gulmarg.

He further clarified that the two individuals arrested by the NIA were allegedly coerced into helping the terrorists. “Under the NIA’s investigation, two people have been arrested for providing assistance — food and shelter — but NIA itself believes that they were forced to do so,” the Chief Minister noted.