The first images of Habib Tahir and Jibran, two of the terrorists behind the deadly April 22 Pahalgam attack, have surfaced following their killing in a joint forces operation in Srinagar.
Both were Pakistani nationals, gunned down alongside top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Hashim Musa, who was the chief conspirator and executor of the assault.
The decisive strike — dubbed Operation Mahadev — was carried out by special forces after a chance sighting inside the Dachegam forest area. According to sources, the terrorists were caught off guard while resting in a tent.
A two-day-long cordon had already been in place when personnel from 4 Para spotted the suspects and launched a swift assault, killing all three on the spot.
“This was not a pre-planned encounter. The forces acted on instinct and precision,” a senior official was quoted as saying by India Today, adding that the group’s attempt to remain on the move failed this time.
The trail leading to the operation began with the detection of a lone Chinese satellite phone in the Baisaran area on July 11. By July 22, advanced sensors confirmed terrorist movement in the forest, enabling troops to prepare for engagement.
In Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah revealed compelling evidence tying the trio to Pakistan. “We have irrefutable proof.
Two of the terrorists carried Pakistani voter identity numbers, and even the chocolates found on them were made in Pakistan,” Shah told the Lok Sabha during a discussion on Operation Sindoor.
He further disclosed that two local men — Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad — had been arrested by the NIA for allegedly sheltering the terrorists. The duo, previously detained by agencies, helped identify the bodies once they were brought to Srinagar.
The forensic match was key to confirming the terrorists’ involvement in the Pahalgam attack. “The FSL report on the cartridges was already prepared. The rifles recovered from the hideout were matched with those reports,” Shah stated.
Security personnel recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition from the site, including 17 grenades, two AK-47 rifles, and a US-made M4 carbine.
Shah praised the relentless pursuit by Indian forces, who braved harsh conditions and high altitudes to track the fugitives. “After the Pahalgam attack, I gave one clear order — don’t let them escape. This is a result of that resolve,” he said.
