The nation will never forget that afternoon of April 22, 2025, when Jihadi Islamic terrorists arriving from Pakistan suddenly turned moments filled with joy and laughter into mourning in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam, J&K. It was a moment when Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists gunned down innocent tourists after first inquiring about their religion. Twenty-six people lost their lives, while dozens were left injured.
Naturally, outrage swept across the entire country immediately following the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a stern message, declaring, “This cowardly attack will be answered, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice.” Home Minister Amit Shah, too, spoke in unequivocal terms in Parliament: “India will no longer sit idly by; every single terrorist will be hunted down and eliminated.”
Thus began the story of that historic campaign dubbed ‘Operation Mahadev’, an operation that in the annals of Indian military prowess, elevated the Indian Army’s strategy, patience, and indomitable courage to unprecedented heights. In the aftermath of the attack, the terrorists had fled to hideouts deep within the high-altitude mountainous terrain. The myriad challenges confronting the security forces, including dense forests, treacherous slopes, and constantly shifting enemy positions, posed a formidable obstacle; yet, the Indian Army’s 15 Corps (Chinar Corps), the Rashtriya Rifles, the CRPF and the J&K Police collectively took charge of the frontlines.
Command of the Operation Rested with the Chinar Corps’ Top Leadership
The strategic command of this entire operation lay in the hands of the Chinar Corps’ top leadership, while its execution on the ground was carried out by seasoned officers of the Rashtriya Rifles and the valiant commandos of the Para Special Forces. The personnel of the Para Special Forces involved in this operation are widely regarded as the most highly trained and lethal commandos within the Indian Army. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them at every step were the units of the Rashtriya Rifles forces, renowned for their expertise in counter-insurgency operations. The CRPF’s Quick Action Teams and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police played a pivotal role in gathering intelligence and sealing off the area.
Spanning 93 days, this operation became a testament to patience and discipline. On several occasions, leads regarding the terrorists were obtained, yet they managed to evade capture every time. The personnel displayed neither haste nor a loss of morale. A new strategy every day and a new plan every night, this became the hallmark of ‘Operation Mahadev.’ The operation made full use of modern technology.
Extensive Use of Technology in ‘Operation Mahadev’
Dr. Rajesh Sharma a retired Air Force and former Principal of the Army School, Bhopal while speaking to “The Organiser magazine”, stated: “If you observe this entire ‘Operation Mahadev’ closely, it becomes evident that the security forces utilized every available resource to its fullest potential ranging from drone surveillance and night-time searches using thermal imaging cameras to location tracking via satellite inputs. Amidst all this, the true strength lay with the soldiers who marched on foot along arduous mountain trails for ten hours at a stretch untiringly and without pause.”
He further added, “This marks a major triumph for our intelligence agencies; they successfully tracked the precise location of Chinese satellite phones during the operation, which ultimately paved the way for its success. Furthermore, through ‘Operation Sindoor,’ India has sent a stern message to Pakistan; the Indian Army is fully capable of striking across the border if the need arises, and it will not hesitate to take such measures in the future.” Notably, on July 26, 2025, Military Intelligence tracked a mobile signal. In fact, the phone, which had suddenly become active at a high altitude, had been switched on by the terrorists, who were suffering from hunger and exhaustion, to call their handlers for help. Following this, command of the final phase of the operation was handed over to the Para Special Forces. Under the cover of darkness, they were airlifted by helicopter and dropped into the mountainous terrain. Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Rifles cordoned off the entire area to ensure that no terrorist could escape.
After a gruelling march on foot across treacherous terrain for nearly 10 hours, the commandos closed in on their target. At 8:00 AM, drone surveillance confirmed that all three terrorists were fast asleep in their tents, completely unaware of the impending danger. What ensued was a vivid testament to the precision and valour of the Indian Army. Without wasting a moment, the Para Commandos tightened their cordon and, within minutes, neutralised all three terrorists. The slain terrorists were identified as Suleiman Shah alias Faisal Jatt (the mastermind), Hamza Afghani, and Jibran. Suleiman Shah was an ‘A’ category commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and had single-handedly orchestrated the entire conspiracy behind this attack. Forensic analysis of the weapons recovered from them, including AK-series rifles and an M4 carbine, confirmed that these were the very weapons used in the Pahalgam attack.
Home Minister Amit Shah Addresses Parliament
Briefing Parliament on the success of this operation, Home Minister Amit Shah stated, “Our soldiers pursued the terrorists with unwavering patience and courage for 93 days, and ultimately eliminated them. This is the strength of the New Bharat.” Applauding the operation, the Army Chief remarked, “This mission stands as a symbol of our joint military capabilities, intelligence coordination, and the indomitable bravery of our valiant soldiers.” However, behind this success lies not merely strategy, but also the anguish of those families who lost their loved ones- families whose memories of them continue to plunge them into sorrow to this very day. There are many such names like Shubham Dwivedi from Kanpur, Lieutenant Vinay Narwal from Karnal, and Sushil Nathaniel from Indore, whose families have still not been able to come to terms with that fateful day.
Vinay Narwal’s Father’s Demand: ‘Operation’ Must Continue Until Terrorism Is Eradicated
Shubham’s newlywed wife’s ‘mehndi’ had barely dried when her world was shattered. To this day, Vinay Narwal’s father asserts, “The true tribute to my son will be paid only when terrorism is brought to an end; ‘Operation Mahadev’ should have continued until terrorism was completely uprooted.” It was this very anguish that transformed ‘Operation Mahadev’ from a mere military operation into a battle for justice. Subsequently, India delivered a cross-border response through ‘Operation Sindoor.’ On the night of May 6–7, nine terrorist hideouts across Pakistan and PoK were destroyed. With over 100 terrorists killed, it became abundantly clear that India is now prepared to respond at every level.
Commenting on this military action, Prime Minister Modi stated, “India seeks peace, but it will never compromise on its security.” Today, as we look back on ‘Operation Mahadev,’ it appears to be far more than just a military campaign; it stands before us as a resounding message. It is a message affirming India’s unwavering commitment to protecting every single one of its citizens. It is a message declaring that the battle against terror has reached a decisive turning point and will continue unabated until Bharat is completely liberated from the scourge of terrorism.
