Operation Mahadev: How Army used drones and tech to eliminate Pahalgam terrorists

Almost a year after the terror attack at Pahalgam, it turns out that technology played a major role in helping the Army’s special forces to locate and then kill the three terrorists hiding in a forest in the upper reaches of South Kashmir.

Technology played a decisive role, said sources describing the action taken after the April 22 attack that killed 26 tourists. A three-month-long ‘Operation Mahadev’ ended on July 28 last year when the three terrorists were killed.

Drones, UAV’s, electro-optical sensors and other advanced surveillance tools were extensively employed to track movement in the dense forested zones, said the sources. Continuous validation was done using these tools to ensure terrorists remained under pressure.

Within hours of the attack on April 22, Army troops reached the site and began piecing together the sequence of events. Eyewitness accounts, including that of an Army officer present at the location, confirmed the involvement of three Pakistani terrorists.

A mix and match of human intelligence and technical inputs was done based on survivor-based identification that led the confirmation of the perpetrators as Sulaiman Shah, Hamza Afgani and Jibran Bhai – all of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, a terror outfit headquartered in Pakistan.

What followed was a coordinated counter-terror operation. The initial response focused on sealing likely escape routes and preventing the terrorists from exiting the Valley.

As intelligence inputs evolved, it became evident the terrorists were moving through the upper reaches of South Kashmir -- Hapatnar, Bugmar and Tral, gradually gravitating towards the dense and rugged forests of Dachhigam along the Mahadeo Ridge. The terrain, marked by thick foliage and high altitude, offered temporary refuge but also posed severe constraints on movement, both for the terrorists and the pursuing forces.

By end May, a clear operational picture had emerged -- terrorists were attempting to exploit the difficult terrain to evade capture, even as the annual Amarnath Yatra approached, raising concerns of potential interference.

Recognising the gravity of the threat, the scope of the operation was expanded. Additional forces, including elite PARA (Special Forces) units, were inducted to intensify the hunt, sources added.

Over the next several weeks, a relentless multi-agency effort unfolded. Intelligence agencies, the Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police, and Central Armed Police Forces worked in coordination. The operational area, initially spread across over 300 square kilometres, was progressively reduced through sustained surveillance, cross-country pursuit.

On July 10 2025, based on fresh intelligence inputs, the ‘Operation Mahadev’ entered its decisive phase. After a relentless pursuit spanning over 250 kilometres and 93 days, the operational grid was finally compressed to a 25 square kilometre area.

On July 28 2025, in a meticulously planned and executed operation, a PARA (Special Forces) team undertook a stealthy approach through treacherous terrain, covering 3 kilometres on foot over 10 hours. In a swift and precise engagement, all three terrorists were neutralised.