Background
On April 22, 2025, a major terror attack took place at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of 26 civilians. The attack marked one of the deadliest incidents targeting civilians in the Union Territory in recent times.
Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security )
Recent Developments
On July 29, 2025, security forces conducted a targeted operation in the Dachigam area of Srinagar, leading to the killing of three foreign terrorists believed to be responsible for the April 22 attack.
Details of the Operation
- The terrorists were identified as:
- Suleman alias Faizal Jatt – Categorized as an “A-category” terrorist; also involved in the Gagangir attack (October 2024).
- Hamza Afghani
- Zibran
- All were Pakistani nationals and affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
- The operation was carried out through coordinated efforts involving:
- Intelligence Bureau (IB)
- Indian Army
- Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
- Jammu & Kashmir Police
- A combination of human and technical intelligence was employed to track the terrorists’ movements.
Government Response
- The operation was confirmed by both the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister in the Lok Sabha during a debate on Operation Sindoor, a broader counter-terror framework.
- It was emphasized that while local recruitment into militant groups has declined, infiltration attempts by foreign terrorists continue.
- The operation was presented as part of a larger effort to maintain internal security in Jammu & Kashmir and to prevent cross-border terrorism.
Operation Mahadev
- Separately, the Home Minister also referenced Operation Mahadev, under which the three terrorists involved in the Baisaran meadow killings were neutralized.
- The twin operations—Sindoor and Mahadev—are part of India’s ongoing security strategy to respond decisively to terrorist threats.
Strategic Implications
- Reinforces the trend of foreign-led terror operations in Kashmir, as local support reportedly diminishes.
- Demonstrates increasing reliance on multi-agency coordination and intelligence integration.
- Underlines India’s continued focus on counter-infiltration and post-incident accountability in terror-related incidents.
