How Indian Forces Tracked Down the Mastermind of the Pahalgam Attack

On July 11, intelligence agencies intercepted a "suspicious communication" near Dachigam National Park in Jammu & Kashmir. This led to a search operation as the signal was linked to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack. Security forces discovered an M4 carbine, two AK47 rifles, grenades, ammunition, and food provisions at a hideout in Harwan, Dachigam.

The operation culminated after 17 days when soldiers from 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 4 Para Commandos encountered three "high value Pakistani terrorists" around 11:30 am on Monday. The terrorists were caught off guard and killed. Among them was Suleiman Shah, a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative suspected to be the main shooter and mastermind behind the Pahalgam attack.

Security Forces' Success

"We have been intercepting terrorists' communications regularly," said an unnamed officer. A suspicious communication detected in Dachigam on July 11 suggested links to the Pahalgam attack. Multiple teams were deployed for search operations across the region. Success came when they found the terrorists hiding in the forested area.

Suleiman Shah's name emerged as a key suspect following the attack that resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and one local pony operator in Pahalgam's picturesque meadow. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), investigating the case, was also searching for him. It is believed he was once a Pakistan army commando.

Investigation and Arrests

The identities of the other two killed have not been officially disclosed yet. Jammu & Kashmir Police posted on X: "Op Mahadev: The identification of the neutralised #terrorists is being done! Please await further details." Neither the army nor NIA has confirmed their identities publicly.

A second officer mentioned that Suleiman Shah's name frequently appeared in intercepts since the Pahalgam attack. He was considered a key operative. Their electronic devices are under examination to uncover communications, routes taken, and hideouts over three months. Clarity is expected by Tuesday morning.

Their identities might be confirmed by Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, arrested by NIA last month for allegedly harbouring the attackers. According to an NIA statement last month, Parvaiz and Bashir knowingly sheltered three armed terrorists at Hill Park before the attack.

International Implications

The Resistance Front, a proxy group for banned LeT organisation, claimed responsibility for this attack. Indian agencies assert that this group serves as Pakistan's front to evade international sanctions.

As reported on April 24 by HT, intelligence traced attackers' digital communications to safe houses in Muzaffarabad and Karachi, confirming Pakistani involvement similar to control rooms used during Mumbai attacks in 2008.

India responded with Operation Sindoor on May 7 by bombing nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during pre-dawn strikes killing at least 100 militants. This operation triggered four days of cross-border fighting involving fighter jets, missiles, and artillery.

On May 9-10 night, Indian Air Force targeted 13 Pakistani airbases and military installations before hostilities ended on May 10.