India’s Home Minister Amit Shah has once again sparked controversy by claiming that the three militants killed in a recent security operation in India-held Kashmir were Pakistani nationals involved in the deadly April attack on tourists in Pahalgam.
Speaking in India’s lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, on Tuesday during a heated debate on the Pahalgam incident and what the Indian government has dubbed 'Operation Mahadev', Shah asserted that India had “solid proof” linking Pakistan to the deadly assault.
The April attack had claimed the lives of at least 26 pilgrims and triggered a spike in hostilities between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Voter IDs, chocolates found
Amit Shah told parliament that security forces recovered Pakistani-made chocolates and what he said were Pakistani voter identity cards from two of the three slain militants. “I want to tell ... the entire nation that these were the three terrorists who killed our citizens ... and now all three have been killed,” Shah claimed.
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However, his remarks drew immediate scepticism and criticism. Analysts pointed out that Pakistan does not issue voter ID cards in the manner India does, calling the claim “factually incorrect and misleading.” Others questioned how militants would still be carrying chocolates three months after the alleged attack.
Pakistan has repeatedly denied involvement in the Pahalgam incident and has offered full cooperation for an independent and impartial investigation. Islamabad has accused India of using such attacks to deflect attention from its domestic issues and growing unrest in Indian-administered Kashmir.
In response to Shah’s latest claims, Pakistani officials said India was “fabricating evidence to justify aggression and distract from its internal failures.”
Operation Mahadev
Amit Shah detailed 'Operation Mahadev', a joint effort by the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir Police. The minister claimed that the three militants, whom he identified as Suleman alias Faisal Jatt, Afghan, and Jibran -- were affiliated with the banned Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and were “A-grade” operatives.
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According to Indian security forces, the suspects were killed during a gun battle in a dense forest area of Kashmir on July 28. Shah described Suleman as the alleged commander responsible for both the Pahalgam and Gagangir attacks. He also confirmed that individuals who provided shelter and logistical support to the attackers have been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Opposition leaders in India questioned the credibility of the claims and demanded evidence be presented in court rather than politicized in parliament.
