The latest operation launched by the security forces against terrorists in J&K, named ‘Operation Mahadev’, once again underlines that India will not spare even a single terrorist enemy. Under this operation in J&K, three terrorists (Suleman, Afghan/Hamza, Jibran) who had dared to pierce the soul of India with the massacre in Pahalgam have been killed in an encounter.
In fact, this encounter has taken place at a time when the echo of ‘Operation Sindoor’ is still there in the country. This was the operation in which India carried out precise attacks on terrorist hideouts located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied J&K (POJK). These included training camps of organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen. The Indian government also said that more than 100 terrorists were killed in this operation, and 11 Pakistani airbases were also destroyed.
In fact, the brutal massacre that took place in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley on April 22 shook the entire country. In this attack, 26 innocent people were targeted only on the basis of their religion. Those who could not recite ‘Kalma’ (Islamic religious prayer) were gunned down. The cruelty was so intense that even the pants were removed to check whether the person in front was a Hindu or a Muslim! When they found out that he was not a Muslim, these terrorists did not waste any time in shooting him. In such a situation, it was naturally necessary that the answer to terror be given in the language that these terrorists understand!
In this context, India’s recent actions show that it is no longer ignoring terrorist attacks by considering them ‘local incidents’, nor is it getting entangled in any diplomatic formalities. If we look at the data of the last five years regarding J&K, it comes to mind that in the year 2020, 225 terrorists were killed, of which 207 were in Kashmir and 18 terrorists were killed by security forces in Jammu. Also, 635 OGWs (suspected associates) were arrested. In the year 2021, 171 terrorists were killed, of which 149 were local and 22 were Pakistani. Indian security forces killed 172 terrorists in 2022, of which 42 were foreigners. 100 new terrorists were included, of which 65 were killed and 17 were arrested. Talking about the year 2023, 81 terrorists were killed in the Jammu region in the whole year, and 214 terrorists have been arrested.
Similarly, during the year 2024, 75 terrorists were killed in J&K, of which about 60 per cent were Pakistanis. At the same time, in 2025 (from January to July) in “Operation Sindoor” (5–7 May), more than 100 terrorists were killed. Then in Operation “Mahadev Samet” and after that, including the now-surfaced Operation “Shivshakti”, a total of 10 terrorists have been killed by our security forces.
These figures make it clear that India is now adopting an aggressive and strategic approach against terrorism, not just a defensive one. Operations like Operation Sindoor, Mahadev, Shivshakti have sent the message that India has the capability and will to eliminate the sources of terrorism not only in its territory but also across the border. Today, the message has been given to the whole world by the Government of India that the purpose of these actions is not only to take revenge, but also to make it clear that India will no longer tolerate terrorism at all.
Now let us talk about ‘Operation Mahadev’; when Indian security forces launched a massive operation to capture the mastermind and other terrorists of the Pahalgam terror attack (April 22, 2025). When they made the plan, they named the said operation ‘Operation Mahadev’. In fact, when the security forces successfully killed three Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, the chief of whom was Suleman Shah alias Hashim Musa, in Dachigam and Lidwas areas of Jammu and Kashmir on July 28, 2025, then this ‘Operation Mahadev’ became a topic of discussion among everyone. After all, why only ‘Operation Mahadev’? Then it has to be understood that the operation was named “Mahadev” because this action took place in the forest area of the Mahadev peaks, which is near Srinagar. Areas like Lidwas, Harwan, and Dachigam National Park fall in this mountainous region, which is known by the local people as “Mahadev Hills” or “Mahadev Trek”. Since the terrorists’ hideout was in the area around Mahadev Peak, this name was made the codename of the operation.
Then the name also symbolises India’s cultural identity, making it not just a military action but a messenger mission. Rather, it makes it a messenger mission. This is also because in the Sanatan Hindu Dharma culture, ‘Mahadev’ is the god of justice and destruction. He is the god of justice, destruction, as well as re-creation. Then the objective of this operation was also to take revenge for the killing of innocents, to end the terrorist conspiracy and to re-establish peace in the region. In this context, the name “Mahadev” in itself represents the resolve for justice and the victory of truth.
The second reason is that naming the operation ‘Mahadev’ was also to give a psychological and moral message to the enemies of the country on behalf of the security forces. India not only takes revenge, but also ends terrorism on the basis of religion, principle and justice. This name is a warning to the terrorists and their supporters that India’s military actions do not just bring weapons, but a sensitive objective. Now, after this, India’s “Operation Shivshakti” has started for the destruction of terrorists, in which the security forces have just killed two terrorists.
Today, the country’s Home Minister Amit Shah clearly told the opposition, which is raising questions on the name of Operation ‘Mahadev’, that ‘Har-Har Mahadev’ is not just a religious slogan. It is the proclamation of our security forces. Amit Shah said that the government is determined to ensure that Kashmir remains free from terrorism. This is Narendra Modi’s resolution. The number of terrorist attacks has come down from 7,214 during the UPA’s rule in 2004-14 to 2,150 in our 10 years of 2015-25. The current government has banned 21 organisations associated with terrorism. Similarly, Amit Shah has told many such comparative works in the Parliament today about how the Modi government at the Centre is working towards eradicating terrorism as compared to the previous governments.
It must be said that the Modi government has adopted a policy of “no compromise” to deal with terrorism. This means that there will be no scope for any kind of talks, leniency or compromise with the terrorists, whether they are inside the country or outside. Across the border. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated on every platform since 2014 that “terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity.” He has clearly called Pakistan a sponsor of terrorism at the United Nations, G-20 and other forums.
This is the reason that whenever Pakistan has carried out a terrorist attack on India, it has been given a befitting reply. Whether it is the surgical strike by the Indian Army after the Uri attack in 2016 to destroy the terrorist launch pads across the LoC. Or the Balakot air strike after the Pulwama attack, in which the Air Force attacked the terrorist camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot, Pakistan on February 26. In fact, this policy shows that the Modi government is not limited to just giving warnings after a terrorist attack, but has the ability and will to give a decisive response and acts accordingly. This is also the big reason why today India’s decisive action to end terrorism is visible in all four directions across the country. Whether it is the attack on jihad, whether it is Islamic terrorism, Naxalite Maoist terrorism or any other kind of terrorism based on ideology.
Overall, India’s decisive action against terrorism is continuing at present, and it will not stop until all types of terrorism are eradicated from India.
