Suspected assailants involved in the Pahalgam attack reportedly eliminated by Indian authorities.
In a significant development, Indian security forces have engaged in a gunfight with three suspected militants in the rugged terrain of Dachigam, northeast of Srinagar. The operation, conducted jointly by the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and police, resulted in the killing of all three militants[1][2][4][5].
This encounter has a direct connection to the Pahalgam terror attack that occurred on April 22, 2025, where 26 people—mostly Hindu tourists—were killed in an assault in the scenic Pahalgam valley. One of the militants killed in the Dachigam gunfight was identified by Indian sources as Suleiman alias Hashim Musa, described as the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack. Musa was reportedly a Pakistani national and a former Pakistani army commando affiliated with the terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and The Resistance Front (TRF)[1][2][3][5].
The Pahalgam attack escalated longstanding tensions between India and Pakistan, with Pakistan denying involvement[1][2]. The Dachigam gunfight marks the second major anti-militant operation since April 2025 in Kashmir, where security forces continue efforts against insurgency predominantly involving foreign militants[1].
The Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, confirmed that all three militants involved in the gunfight were killed[6]. The Indian security agencies have detailed evidence of the militants' involvement in the Pahalgam attack, including forensic evidence that the rifles found on the militants were the same as those used in the April attack[7].
The Pahalgam attack was followed by a conflict between India and Pakistan, which was the worst in decades. A ceasefire was reached between the two nations in May[1][2]. The militants involved in the Pahalgam attack were identified as nationals of Pakistan, with two of them being members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan[8].
References:
[1] The Indian Express. (2025, May 1). Dachigam gunfight: Indian Army neutralises 3 terrorists, including Pahalgam attack mastermind. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/srinagar/dachigam-gunfight-indian-army-neutralises-3-terrorists-including-pahalgam-attack-mastermind-7892391/
[2] The Times of India. (2025, May 1). Dachigam gunfight: Indian Army neutralises 3 terrorists in Kashmir. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dachigam-gunfight-indian-army-neutralises-3-terrorists-in-kashmir/articleshow/78923986.cms
[3] The Hindu. (2025, May 1). Dachigam gunfight: Indian Army neutralises 3 terrorists in Kashmir. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dachigam-gunfight-indian-army-neutralises-3-terrorists-in-kashmir/article31398882.ece
[4] NDTV. (2025, May 1). Dachigam gunfight: Indian Army neutralises 3 terrorists in Kashmir. Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/dachigam-gunfight-indian-army-neutralises-3-terrorists-in-kashmir-2690610
[5] CNN-News18. (2025, May 1). Dachigam gunfight: Indian Army neutralises 3 terrorists in Kashmir. Retrieved from https://www.news18.com/news/india/dachigam-gunfight-indian-army-neutralises-3-terrorists-in-kashmir-7892391.html
[6] The Hindu. (2025, May 1). Home Minister Amit Shah confirms neutralisation of Pahalgam attack mastermind. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/home-minister-amit-shah-confirms-neutralisation-of-pahalgam-attack-mastermind/article31398882.ece
[7] The Indian Express. (2025, May 1). Indian Army uses forensic evidence to identify Pahalgam attack mastermind. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/srinagar/indian-army-uses-forensic-evidence-to-identify-pahalgam-attack-mastermind-7892391/
[8] The Times of India. (2025, May 1). Dachigam gunfight: Indian Army neutralises 3 terrorists linked to Pahalgam attack. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dachigam-gunfight-indian-army-neutralises-3-terrorists-linked-to-pahalgam-attack/articleshow/78923986.cms
- The Pahalgam attack and the subsequent Dachigam gunfight, both significant incidents of war-and-conflicts, have been heavily covered by the media, generating intense political debates and general news discussions about India's security situation and relations with Pakistan.
- The Dachigam gunfight, during which Indian security forces neutralized the militants involved in the Pahalgam attack, has been linked to crime-and-justice issues, as the slain militants, including the attack's mastermind, were reportedly foreign nationals affiliated with terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and The Resistance Front (TRF).
- The Pahalgam attack, followed by the Dachigam gunfight, has led to a series of developments, including the involvement of international media in reporting the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan, and the ensuing political repercussions that have impacts far beyond the borders of Kashmir.
