Probe: Satellite phone signals detected during Pahalgam terror attack

Amid the ongoing investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, security agencies are reported to have detected satellite phone signals in the region at the time of the incident.

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According to sources, intelligence agencies found that satellite phone signals were active in and around Baisaran Valley when the April 22 attack occurred. Investigators are now focusing on identifying the make of the satellite phone, with initial suspicion pointing to a possible Chinese origin.

This discovery suggests that the terrorists involved — who gunned down 26 civilians — were likely in communication with one another before and possibly during the attack. Earlier reports had indicated that no communication signals were traced within a 50-km radius for nearly a week leading up to the assault, making this a significant new lead in the investigation.

The latest development also aligns with intelligence inputs indicating the involvement of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), the ISI and even the Pakistani army.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) formally took over the probe on April 27.

Meanwhile, LeT overground workers are believed to have played a critical role in facilitating the attack. Efforts are underway to compile a comprehensive list of their contacts so that action can be taken. Investigators have found that these overground operatives were also in communication with handlers based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Advanced 3D mapping and artificial intelligence tools are being employed to recreate the sequence of events during the attack, sources said.