In a decisive counter-terror operation, Jammu and Kashmir security forces have avenged the Pahalgam attack by eliminating Suleiman Shah, alias Hashim Musa, the mastermind behind the attack. Shah, a former commando of Pakistan’s elite Special Service Group (SSG) and a known Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative, was killed in a high-altitude encounter during Operation Mahadev on the outskirts of Srinagar.
The mission, which had been under planning for several days, was carried out with precision and coordination among the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police. The operation was named after Mahadev Peak, a prominent landmark near the Dachigam forest range where the terrorists were hiding.
14 Days of Surveillance, Encrypted Chinese Radios, and a Deadly Hideout
Sources revealed that the operation began with surveillance efforts triggered by intercepted communication on a Chinese ultra-radio system often used by Lashkar operatives for encrypted messaging. These devices, including the so-called WY SMS system, were detected in the region in early July, signaling possible terror activity.
Security forces tracked the movement of Lashkar and Jaish terrorists in the dense forests around Mahadev Peak and the Mulnar area of Harwan. The hideout was discovered in the Dachigam forest zone, a rugged terrain requiring jungle warfare tactics. Over 14 days, physical reconnaissance and electronic surveillance were conducted before striking with a coordinated assault.
During the encounter, three foreign terrorists were neutralized, all classified as high-value targets. Among them was Suleiman Shah, who had not only been active with Lashkar-e-Taiba but also had a military background as an SSG commando in Pakistan’s army. He had later joined Hafiz Saeed's LeT to further cross-border terror operations. The recovery includes Carbine and AK-47 rifles, 17 rifle grenades, and a cache of arms and ammunition, suggesting that the terrorists were preparing for a significant attack in the Jammu and Kashmir region.
Combing operations are still ongoing in the region, and reinforcements have been deployed to eliminate any remaining threats. Officials are also analyzing the equipment recovered from the hideout to uncover possible international links and future threats. Operation Mahadev stands as a major success in India’s ongoing counter-terror strategy, marking a strong response to the Pahalgam attack and neutralizing some of the most dangerous operatives active in the Kashmir Valley.
