Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed in the Lok Sabha that all three terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev in Srinagar were Pakistani nationals, and the same individuals responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam massacre.
Participating in a discussion on Operation Sindoor, Shah said that conclusive and irrefutable evidence linked the terrorists to Pakistan, slamming the opposition—particularly Congress leader P Chidambaram—for reportedly casting doubt on their origins.
“These were the same terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack. We have irrefutable proof. Their Pakistani voter numbers were pulled out. What more evidence is needed?” Shah was quoted as saying.
Reports confirmed that he revealed that Pakistani voter ID numbers, Pakistan-manufactured chocolates, and weapons recovered from the terrorists’ hideout firmly established their identity and nationality.
“The rifles of the three terrorists were seized and matched with the FSL reports. The FSL report of the cartridges from the terror attack was already ready… After that, it was confirmed that these three were those who carried out the terror attack,” Shah was reported to have said.
Shah identified the terrorists as top Lashkar commander Suleiman Shah, Afghan, and Jibran. He said they were recognised by those who had harboured them after the carnage. “Once the bodies of these terrorists were brought to Srinagar, they were identified by those who were kept detained by our agencies,” he affirmed.
He added that following the April 22 attack, he had ordered security forces to ensure that the perpetrators could not escape. “Meticulous plans were made within hours. Our soldiers kept patrolling in the cold at high altitudes. On May 22, intelligence was received about their presence in the Dachigam forests. On July 22, we had success. Through sensors, we got confirmation of the presence of terrorists in the area,” Shah said.
The operation culminated in the seizure of 17 grenades, a US-made M4 carbine, and two AK-47 rifles from the terrorists’ hideout.
The Union Minister also reminded the House of the brutality of the Pahalgam attack. “Innocent civilians were killed in front of their families by asking about their religion in the Baisaran Valley… In a joint operation, the Army, CRPF and J&K Police neutralised the three terrorists who were involved in the attack,” Shah stated.
Two locals, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad, were arrested earlier by the NIA for allegedly providing shelter and food to the terrorists.
Shah launched a blistering attack on P Chidambaram for his controversial remarks suggesting the attackers “could be homegrown” and that there was “no evidence” they came from Pakistan. “Yesterday, former Home Minister Chidambaram raised a question about the proof of the terrorists coming from Pakistan… Whom does he want to save? What will he gain by defending Pakistan?” Shah thundered.
He added, “We have the proof that these three were Pakistanis. We have voter ID numbers of the two of them… The chocolates recovered from them are made in Pakistan… The former Home Minister of this country is giving a clean chit to Pakistan. If they were not Pakistanis, then Chidambaram is also raising the question as to why Pakistan was attacked… 130 crore people are watching their conspiracy to save Pakistan…”
Shah further sharped his criticism, “Yesterday, they (Congress) were asking us where the terrorists came from and who was responsible. Of course, it is our responsibility as we are in power. But when Chidambaram says there’s no proof, it means they are giving a clean chit to Pakistan.”
Earlier, Chidambaram had questioned the government’s stance, saying, “Have they (government) identified the terrorists? Where they came from? I mean, for all we know, they could be homegrown terrorists. Why do you assume that they came from Pakistan? There’s no evidence of that.”
Facing backlash, Chidambaram later issued a clarification. Denouncing what he called a “deliberate misinformation campaign,” he said his comments were misrepresented through selective editing. “Trolls are of different kinds and use different tools to spread misinformation. The worst kind is a troll who suppresses the full recorded interview, takes two sentences, mutes some words, and paints the speaker in a black colour!” he posted on X.
Amid uproar in the House, Shah didn’t hold back in criticising the opposition’s response to the operation’s success. “I was expecting that when they hear this news of the killing of the Pahalgam terrorists, they would be happy, but instead they don’t seem happy about it,” he said.
He also took aim at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who tried to interrupt him. “Akhilesh ji… please sit down, I will respond to every question. Don’t be sad over the religion of the terrorists,” Shah said.
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