New Delhi, June 24 -- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday defended local residents after the National Investigation Agency arrested two Kashmiri men for allegedly "harbouring the terrorists responsible for the deadly 22 April attack in Pahalgam". Speaking to reporters, CM Abdullah said, "There was no local involvement in the Pahalgam attack; the residents arrested by the NIA were forced to help the terrorists."

Two Kashmiri men have been arrested by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) for harbouring the terrorists responsible for the deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.

The accused, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, both residents of Pah...