Among those killed were the prime accused in the Pahalgam attack—Suleman Shah alias Hashim Musa, Hamza Afghani and Jibran—who were neutralised during Operation Mahadev on July 28 in the Harwan area near Dachigam National Park in Srinagar. Officials said the operation was launched on specific intelligence inputs and resulted in the recovery of a significant cache of arms, including an American-made M4 carbine, AK-series rifles and grenades.
The Pahalgam attack, in which terrorists opened fire on civilians, claimed the lives of 25 tourists and one local resident, triggering widespread outrage and prompting a robust response from Indian security agencies. In the aftermath, India launched Operation Sindoor on the night of May 6–7, targeting terror infrastructure across the border. According to defence officials, nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were destroyed during the operation, dealing a major blow to militant networks. Security agencies have claimed that over 100 terrorists were killed in the cross-border strikes, though independent verification remains unavailable.
Data from the Kashmir Frontier indicates that four infiltration attempts were detected along the Line of Control (LoC) during the year. These involved 13 terrorists; eight were killed by security forces, while five were forced to retreat back across the border. Officials said enhanced surveillance and coordinated operations along the LoC helped prevent militants from establishing footholds in the hinterland.
The year, however, also saw sacrifices by security personnel. Two soldiers were martyred in February when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in the Akhnoor sector, while another soldier lost his life in April during an operation in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district.
Civilians also bore the brunt of cross-border hostilities. In Poonch district, Pakistani shelling along the LoC resulted in the deaths of 21 civilians, officials said, highlighting the continuing risks faced by border populations.
Senior security officials said counter-terror operations would continue with a focus on dismantling remaining networks, preventing infiltration and maintaining pressure on militant leadership. “The operations this year reflect a calibrated approach combining intelligence-led action, border management and targeted strikes,” an official said.
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