A recent investigation into the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22, 2025, has revealed critical links between one of the mobile phones used by the attackers and a shipment imported into Pakistan in 2021. Investigators from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have identified that the phone was part of a consignment financed by Faysal Bank, a Karachi-based financial institution known for its past connections to several extremist organizations.

The report indicates that both phones used in the Pahalgam attack, a Xiaomi Redmi 9T imported in 2021 and a Redmi Note 12 from 2023, remained inactive until shortly before the incident. Sources confirmed the phones were linked to a shipment delivered to the bank that was allegedly involved in providing financial support for the importation.

Documents suggest the shipment was received by Tech Sirat Pvt Ltd in Pakistan, while Faysal Bank was noted as the financial facilitator. Investigators believe that the older phone was smuggled out of this consignment specifically for the use of terrorists associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), an organization banned in several countries for its militant activities.

Although no direct evidence has surfaced linking Faysal Bank to the Pahalgam attack, its historical associations with terror-related investigations raise concerns. Past reports indicated that accounts tied to Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Kuwait-based Lajnat-al-Dawa were maintained at Faysal Bank, drawing scrutiny from global governing bodies.

The second phone was imported by Air Link Communications Ltd and also remained dormant until the lead-up to the attack. Investigators managed to recover photos and detailed maps from the devices, suggesting premeditated planning by the attackers who had set up a tent in a vantage position on March 30, 2025.

As the investigation continues, the implications of these findings could lead to increased scrutiny not only on the involved financial institutions but also on the broader networks facilitating terrorism in the region.