India
oi-Amit Vasudev
Security
forces
have
located
the
Pahalgam
attackers
“at
least
four
times” at
various
locations
over
the
past
five
days,
coming
“very
close”
to
cornering
them
in
the
forests
of
South
Kashmir
–
and,
on
one
occasion,
even
exchanging
fire
with
them,
The
Indian
Express
reported.
According
to
sources,
the
terrorists
were
tracked
using
information
from
local
residents,
intelligence
inputs,
and
combing
operations.
personnel
talk
to
a
child
riding
a
bicycle
as
they
keep
a
vigil
along
the
banks
of
Dal
Lake,
in
the
aftermath
of
the
Pahalgam
terrorist
attack,
in
Srinagar,
Jammu
and
Kashmir,
Sunday,
April
27,
2025.
“It’s
a
cat
and
mouse
game.
There
have
been
instances
where
they
have
been
visibly
located.
But
by
the
time
they
could
be
engaged,
they
had
escaped.
The
forests
are
extremely
dense,
making
it
difficult
to
pursue
them
even
after
spotting
them.
However,
we
are
confident
we
will
capture
them;
it
is
only
a
matter
of
days,” an
officer
from
the
military
establishment
told
the
newspaper.
The
Army,
in
coordination
with
Central
Armed
Police
Forces
and
the
Jammu
and
Kashmir
Police,
has
been
conducting
cordon
and
search
operations
in
the
forests
surrounding
Pahalgam
in
pursuit
of
the
four
terrorists
–
including
two
from
Pakistan
–
responsible
for
the
killing
of
26
people
at
Baisaran
meadow
on
21
April.
Sources
indicated
that
the
terrorists
were
first
sighted
near
Hapat
Nar
village
in
Pahalgam
tehsil,
Anantnag,
but
managed
to
escape
by
exploiting
the
dense
terrain.
Subsequently,
they
were
reportedly
spotted
in
the
forests
of
Kulgam,
where
a
brief
exchange
of
fire
occurred
with
security
forces
before
they
fled
once
more.
The
group
was
later
located
near
the
Tral
ridge
and
then
in
Kokernag,
where
they
are
currently
believed
to
be
operating.
Sources
said
the
manhunt
has
been
complicated
by
the
terrorists’
extreme
caution
in
securing
supplies.
“Typically,
terrorists
need
to
arrange
for
food,
which
often
draws
them
to
villages.
At
times,
they
use
local
contacts
to
bring
supplies
to
them
in
the
forests,
generating
human
intelligence
that
gives
security
forces
an
opportunity
to
act.
However,
these
individuals
are
operating
with
great
care,” said
an
officer.
“We
are
aware
of
an
incident
where
they
entered
a
house
at
dinner
time,
seized
food,
and
fled.
By
the
time
security
forces
were
alerted
and
arrived,
significant
time
had
passed,
allowing
the
terrorists
to
escape,”
he
added.
Another
complication,
sources
mentioned,
is
the
lighter
snowfall
in
the
Kishtwar
range
this
season.
“This
provides
the
terrorists
with
the
opportunity
to
cross
towards
the
Jammu
side,
where
the
forests
are
denser
and
the
terrain
more
challenging.
They
have
been
using
the
Kishtwar
range
to
manoeuvre,
but
we
believe
they
are
still
within
South
Kashmir,”
the
officer
said.
“There
is
a
‘front
door’
to
the
Kashmir
side
and
a
‘back
door’
leading
towards
Jammu.
Recently,
foreign
terrorists
have
increasingly
been
infiltrating
and
operating
via
the
Jammu
side.
Our
counter-infiltration
grid
is
not
as
robust
there
compared
to
North
Kashmir,”
he
noted.
Security
forces
remain
optimistic
that
the
terrorists
will
eventually
make
a
mistake
and
be
neutralised.
For
instance,
sources
revealed
that
the
attackers
took
two
mobile
phones
from
the
tourists
they
killed
at
Baisaran.
“It
is
anticipated
that
these
phones
may
be
used
to
establish
communication
locally
or
across
the
border.
Our
technical
intelligence
network
is
closely
monitoring
these
devices
for
potential
leads,”
they
said.
Meanwhile,
the
counter-infiltration
grid
on
both
the
Jammu
and
Kashmir
sides
has
been
strengthened,
and
border
forces
placed
on
high
alert
to
prevent
the
terrorists
from
escaping
across.
The
Jammu
and
Kashmir
Police
are
also
interrogating
suspected
overground
workers
linked
to
terror
outfits
in
South
Kashmir
to
gather
intelligence
and
ascertain
whether
additional
individuals
were
involved
in
the
attack.
The
investigation
is
focusing
on
the
logistical
support
the
terrorists
may
have
received
in
planning
and
executing
the
assault.
