10 days on, Pahalgam attackers still at large: How the four terrorists have evaded capture in South Kashmir

Ten days after the horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 26 dead, the perpetrators remain on the run. At least two Pakistani nationals and one resident of south Kashmir, who carried out the attack, along with a fourth one, who was hiding nearby to provide backup, are said to remain active and hidden in South Kashmir, as per National Investigation Agency (NIA) sources as quoted by NDTV and India Today.

The investigation so far has revealed that the terrorists were present in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam two days before carrying out the attack on April 22. The over ground workers (terrorist sympathisers) revealed that they recced at least three other locations, including the Aru and Betaab valleys, but did not target them due to presence of high security, as per NIA sources quoted by NDTV. Instead, they picked Baisaran meadow, which is only accessible on pony ride or on foot.

Reports quoted NIA sources saying that the attackers are still in South Kashmir, particularly in the upper reaches of Anantnag, and have provisions to sustain themselves. Since they are carrying food supplies and other essential provisions, the terrorists can stay hidden in the dense forests for long, without any external logistical support.

The terrorists are believed to be trained in jungle warfare and the rough terrain in the region is believed to have worked to their advantage. A thick forest belt stretches from Kathua in Jammu to South Kashmir, with vegetation so dense that visibility drops to less than 10 meters in certain areas.

Over the past four years, Pakistani terrorists—trained in jungle warfare and equipped with advanced rifles and modern communication gear—have been executing coordinated terror attacks across the Kashmir Valley.

“We have been fighting terrorism for more than three decades now; this is real guerrilla warfare. We have observed over the last two years that these terrorists have military training, are armed with US-made rifles and have bullet-proof jackets and steel bullets with them. From their training and weapons, we can’t rule out the presence of Pakistani army regulars or retired commissioned officers among them,” The Indian Express quoted a senior police official as saying.