New Delhi: A week before the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, on April 22, terrorists had conducted reconnaissance of three locations in the area on April 15, sources said. One of the terrorists surveyed the amusement park in Pahalgam, but the plan to attack the site was dropped due to heightened security.
Sources added that the terrorists were found using an ultra-state communication system during the attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley. This system allows terrorists to communicate and exchange messages without using a SIM card, enabling short-range, secure communication.
According to a preliminary forensic analysis and testimonies of survivors, the terrorists used military-grade weapons and advanced communication devices, indicating external logistical support.The Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir showed striking similarities to Hamas tactics used in Israel. Investigators reported the use of helmet-mounted body cams, identity checks, and encrypted apps by Pakistan-based terrorists.
The attack targeted non-Muslims, particularly Hindus, in a tourist area. Security agencies are investigating local support and the source of high-tech equipment used by the attackers. On April 22, five to six terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in the Baisaran meadow, which is around 5 kms from Pahalgam. The meadow – also known as ‘mini Switzerland’ – is accessible only by foot or by horseback. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Eyewitnesses said the terrorists emerged from the surrounding pine forests and fired at people picnicking, riding ponies, or eating at food stalls. In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took a series of sweeping diplomatic and strategic countermeasures against Pakistan