Unmasking the Pahalgam Attack: A Trail of Terror Leading to Pakistan

On April 22, 2025, the tranquil hill meadows of Baisaran in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam region turned into a battlefield. Three armed terrorists, posing as tourists, opened indiscriminate fire on civilians, resulting in the brutal deaths of 26 people, including an international tourist from Nepal. The attackers then vanished into the dense forests, triggering one of the largest counter-terror operations in recent memory. As the Indian state mourned its loss, security forces began piecing together the threads of an intricate and international terror conspiracy.

After an intense firefight between terrorists in the Harwan area, three heavily armed terrorists were killed in an encounter under Operation Mahadev.(Basit Zargar/ANI) | Hindustan Times

Decoding the Attack: From LoC to Dachigam

Initial investigations revealed that the terrorists had infiltrated from across the Line of Control (LoC) near the Gurez sector in 2022. For nearly two years, they remained hidden in the Kashmir Valley, aided by a sparse yet significant support network. On April 21, a day before the attack, they sheltered in a hut just 2 kilometers from Baisaran. Two local men, Parvaiz and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, provided them with food and directions. At dawn the following morning, the three men advanced on foot into the scenic valley and opened fire on unsuspecting civilians before disappearing into the forest toward Dachigam National Park.

Their escape was aided by the rugged terrain and strategic pre-planning. Investigators later discovered GPS data and satellite phone pings that precisely mapped the escape route from Baisaran to Dachigam. This confirmed what Indian agencies had long suspected — the assault was not an isolated act of violence but a premeditated operation guided from outside Indian borders.

Operation Mahadev: Bringing Justice to the Killers

After three months of relentless pursuit, security agencies launched Operation Mahadev in late July. Based on human and technical intelligence, the operation zeroed in on the Dachigam-Harwan forest belt near Srinagar. On July 28, 2025, a fierce gunfight ensued. All three terrorists were neutralized.

The dead were later identified as Suleman Shah alias Faizal Jatt, Abu Hamza alias Afghan, and Yasir alias Jibran — all senior Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives and confirmed nationals of Pakistan. Their identity was confirmed through biometric data, voter ID slips, and facial recognition records linked to Pakistan’s NADRA system.

The Pakistani Connection: A Web of Evidence

A wealth of incriminating material was recovered from the encounter site. Among the most striking were Pakistani voter slips — one from NA-125 Lahore and another from NA-79 Gujranwala. Fingerprint scans and data retrieved from a micro SD card embedded in their satellite phone matched entries in Pakistan’s national database, affirming their origins in Kasur and Rawalakot regions.

Chocolate wrappers, identified as Pakistani brands like Candyland and ChocoMax, bore lot numbers from Karachi, confirming their journey through Muzaffarabad. Further forensic analysis showed the same AK-103 rifles used in Baisaran were recovered from their bodies. DNA evidence and blood samples from the crime scene in Pahalgam matched those collected after the Dachigam encounter.

All this pointed to a singular conclusion: the attackers were trained, equipped, and directed from Pakistani soil.

Sajid Saifullah Jatt: The Handler in Lahore

As investigators traced the call logs and satellite signals further, they reached a critical discovery — the operation had been directed by Sajid Saifullah Jatt, Lashkar-e-Taiba’s South Kashmir operations commander based in Lahore. Voice samples taken from a recovered satellite phone confirmed his identity. Indian intelligence agencies believe that Sajid was not only the handler but also the strategic mind behind the selection of target, movement, and escape route of the attackers.

This direct link to Pakistan’s mainland raised serious questions about state complicity. Indian authorities have indicated that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) may have played a key logistical and planning role, coordinating with Lashkar operatives to enable this high-profile assault.

The Global Stage Responds: TRF Designated a Terror Group

The Resistance Front (TRF), a front group for Lashkar-e-Taiba, had claimed responsibility for the attack shortly after it took place. Until recently, Pakistan had denied TRF’s ties to its territory. However, mounting evidence and India’s diplomatic efforts led to a major development. In July 2025, the United States officially designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), and also listed it under the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) category.

This marked a significant shift in international acknowledgment of Pakistan-based proxy groups operating in Kashmir. It also opened doors for deeper counterterrorism cooperation between India and its allies, particularly the U.S. and European Union.

India’s Response: From Parliament to the Border

In a powerful address to Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid out the entire chain of events, presenting ballistic reports, DNA findings, digital trail logs, and physical evidence. Shah stressed that this was not merely a terror attack but a foreign-directed massacre aimed at destabilizing peace in Jammu & Kashmir. He reiterated that India would not tolerate such provocations and warned of fitting responses to cross-border terrorism.

Simultaneously, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked Operation Sindoor — a secretive anti-missile campaign conducted in May — claiming that over 1,000 incoming Pakistani projectiles were intercepted. Modi emphasized that India responded swiftly and independently, without relying on international mediation, underscoring New Delhi’s doctrine of strategic autonomy.

Pakistan’s Denial and India’s Dossier

Predictably, Pakistan dismissed the allegations as “fabricated” and “politically motivated.” Islamabad’s Foreign Ministry rejected the evidence presented by India and called for an independent international inquiry. However, with biometric and digital forensics stacked against them — and the growing alignment of global powers behind India’s position — Pakistan’s denial has found limited traction.

India has already shared its dossier with several international organizations, including the United Nations Security Council, which recently acknowledged TRF’s role in the Pahalgam incident in an internal counterterrorism report.

Conclusion: A Message Beyond Borders

The Pahalgam attack was not merely a local tragedy but a calculated geopolitical move by entities seeking to destabilize India through violence and fear. The swift neutralization of the attackers in Operation Mahadev, combined with conclusive forensic evidence and international diplomatic support, has fortified India’s position on the global stage.

By exposing the handlers, establishing Pakistani complicity, and rallying international condemnation, India has sent a clear message: cross-border terrorism will be met with decisive retaliation, persistent investigation, and unrelenting pursuit of justice.

(Sources: Firstpost, Hindustan Times, Moneycontrol)