Terrorist conducted recce of three locations in Pahalgam area on April 15, a week prior to deadly strike: Sources
Pahalgam terror strike update: Security sources have revealed that the terrorists had conducted detailed reconnaissance of three locations in the area on April 15, a week prior to the assault. One of the key targets considered was the amusement park in Pahalgam, but heightened security presence led the assailants to abandon that plan.
Notably, in one of the deadliest terror strikes targeting civilians in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, 26 persons—mostly tourists—lost their lives when armed militants opened fire in Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley, a popular scenic destination often referred to as “mini Switzerland.”
The attack was launched in Baisaran, a lush meadow accessible only on foot or horseback, situated about 5 km from Pahalgam town., due to the absence of security. Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene as terrorists emerged from nearby pine forests and indiscriminately opened fire on unsuspecting picnickers, tourists on ponies, and visitors at food stalls. Among the deceased were two foreign nationals—one from the UAE and another from Nepal—as well as two local residents.
Intelligence officials disclosed that the attackers employed a sophisticated ultra-short-range communication system that does not rely on SIM cards, making it difficult to trace. Signals from this secure, high-tech network were detected during the assault, indicating coordinated movements between multiple operatives.
Responsibility for the massacre was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to reports, five to six militants participated in the ambush.
In response to the brutal attack, India convened an emergency Cabinet Committee on Security meeting led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government announced a slew of tough diplomatic and strategic measures aimed at Pakistan. These include: A downgrade in bilateral diplomatic relations; closure of select cross-border routes; suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and expulsion of Pakistani military attachés from India.
- With inputs from agencies
