The National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched a probe on Tuesday into the killing of Suleiman Shah alias Asif, the alleged mastermind of the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, and his associates, Jibran and Hamza Afghani, in a high-stakes encounter near Srinagar’s Dachigam National Park. The operation, codenamed Operation Mahadev, was executed on July 28 by the Army’s elite 4 Para commandos, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police in Mulnar, Harwan, triggered by a Chinese satellite phone signal linked to the attackers.

The NIA team arrived at the Police Control Room (PCR) early Tuesday to oversee body identification, with witnesses, including detained harborers Parvez and Bashir, questioned in batches to confirm Suleiman’s identity with “cent percent certainty.” The Pahalgam attack at Baisaran Meadows killed 26 people, mostly tourists, prompting Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting nine Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) bases in Pakistan and PoK, eliminating over 100 terrorists.

Suleiman, a former Pakistan Army Special Service Group commando and A-category LeT operative, orchestrated six attacks, including Baramulla’s, killing four security personnel. Jibran was linked to the October 2024 Sonamarg Tunnel attack, which killed seven, including a doctor. Recovered items include an M4 carbine, two AK-47 rifles, 17 rifle grenades, and an encrypted Ultra Set device, tracked for over a month. Forensic analysis in Chandigarh confirmed the weapons’ match to Pahalgam’s bullet casings.

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Intelligence suggests another terrorist group in the area, with ongoing combing operations using drones and reinforcements. The NIA’s investigation, supported by 14 interrogated Over Ground Workers, aims to dismantle the LeT-JaM network. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing the Lok Sabha, hailed the operation as a “tremendous success,” while PM Narendra Modi and J&K leaders praised the forces. The probe continues to uncover local logistics and Pakistan’s role in the attack.

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