In a breakthrough, Indian security agencies have unearthed irrefutable evidence confirming that the three foreign terrorists killed during ‘Operation Mahadev’ in the Dachigam forest area of Jammu and Kashmir were Pakistani nationals and senior operatives of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The trio had been responsible for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed 26 innocent lives in the scenic Baisaran meadow.
The confirmation comes through a detailed post-encounter investigation that included forensic science, digital data, biometric analysis, and the recovery of official documents issued by the Government of Pakistan, leaving no room for doubt about Islamabad’s direct involvement.
The Encounter and Operation Mahadev
The three terrorists were eliminated on July 28 in a high-stakes anti-terror operation named ‘Operation Mahadev’, which was carried out in the Dachigam-Harwan forest belt near Srinagar. According to officials, they had been hiding in the dense forests since the Pahalgam attack, avoiding detection for over three months.
Security forces launched the operation after digital surveillance, particularly from a Huawei satellite phone (IMEI 86761204-XXXXXX) used by the terrorists, indicated regular pinging of the Inmarsat-4 F1 satellite every night from inside the forest, helping agencies narrow down the search zone to a 4-square-kilometre area.
Pakistani Identity Proven with Government-Issued Documents
First, Indian authorities have recovered official documents from the Government of Pakistan, including:
- Laminated voter identity slips issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan, retrieved from the pockets of the slain terrorists.
- One voter ID corresponded to Lahore’s NA-125 constituency, while the other belonged to NA-79 in Gujranwala.
- A micro-SD chip recovered from a damaged satellite phone contained NADRA-linked biometric records, including fingerprints, facial recognition templates, and even the family tree of the three individuals, all registered under Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
The attackers were identified as:
- Suleman Shah alias Faizal Jatt – A++ category terrorist and mastermind of the Pahalgam massacre.
- Abu Hamza alias Afghan – A-grade LeT commander and second gunman.
- Yasir alias Jibran – A-grade LeT commander and the third shooter.
Forensic Corroboration: From Bullets to DNA
The meticulous investigation also linked ballistic evidence from the Pahalgam site to AK-103 rifles recovered during the Dachigam encounter. A 100% match was confirmed between the 7.62×39 mm cartridge casings found at the Baisaran site and the three recovered weapons.
Further, DNA analysis of bloodstains found on a torn shirt in Pahalgam revealed mitochondrial profiles matching those of the three slain militants.
GPS & Digital Footprints
A Garmin GPS device recovered from the terrorists contained waypoints that exactly matched eyewitness accounts of the shooters’ positions during the attack. This evidence, combined with intercepted radio communication logs and night-time satellite phone signals, further cemented the trail.
Pakistani Products Add Clues
Interestingly, personal items found in the militants’ rucksacks, including wrappers of Pakistani chocolate brands like CandyLand and ChocoMax (produced in Karachi), were traced back to a May 2024 consignment shipped to Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Local Support: Role of Kashmiri Aides
Two local individuals, Parvaiz and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, have been detained for providing logistical support to the terrorists. As per their statements, the terrorists hid in a seasonal hut (‘dhok’) near Hill Park, just 2 km from Baisaran, on April 21 — a day before the carnage. They were fed and given shelter before setting out for the assault.
Pakistan’s Lashkar Command Chain Exposed
The investigation also revealed that Sajid Saifullah Jatt, LeT’s South Kashmir operations head from Changa Manga, Lahore, served as the overall handler of the attackers. His voice samples matched earlier intercepted communications, affirming his role.
Another senior LeT commander, Rizwan Anees from Rawalakot, visited the families of the slain terrorists on July 29 and organised ‘Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza’ (funeral prayers in absentia), the video of which is now part of the official Indian dossier on Pakistan’s terror links.
Misidentification Clarified
Earlier sketches released by the Jammu and Kashmir Police identified suspects named Hashim Musa, Ali Bhai alias Talha, and Adil Hussain Thoker. However, post-encounter verification clarified that these were incorrect identifications, based on unrelated evidence from a December 2024 shootout.
No Local Participation in the Attack Team
Crucially, authorities reiterated that none of the shooters involved in the actual Pahalgam attack were locals. The attack was entirely orchestrated, planned, and executed by foreign nationals, confirming cross-border terrorism once again as a primary threat to peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
The depth, scale, and sophistication of evidence collected during and after ‘Operation Mahadev’ leave room for plausible deniability. This incident yet again reinforces the need for stronger global counter-terror mechanisms, increased vigilance along the LoC, and firm international pressure on Pakistan to dismantle terror infrastructures operating with impunity within its borders.
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