Indian security forces have killed three Pakistani nationals accused of carrying out the April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 dead, Home Minister Amit Shah told Parliament on Tuesday.
According to Shah, the suspects, identified as Suleiman Shah, Afghan, and Jibran, were killed on Monday in Dachigam, a forested area about 30 kilometers from Srinagar, during a joint operation involving the army, paramilitary forces, and local police.
Shah said two of the men were members of the banned group Lashkar-e-Taiba, while the third’s affiliation remains unclear.
According to Shah, weapons recovered from the scene: a U.S.-made M9 pistol and two AK-47 rifles, matched ballistic evidence from the April massacre. “Six scientists confirmed the match. These were the weapons used to kill our innocent citizens,” he told lawmakers.
“They killed our tourists and now they have been killed,” Shah further added.
The deadly assault in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Indian-administered Kashmir, sparked a sharp escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for backing the attackers, a charge Pakistan has denied.
In May, India launched strikes on targets in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan responded with drone and missile attacks. The four-day exchange left more than 70 people dead before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire brought an end to the hostilities.
Pakistan has not responded to India’s latest claims. The identities and affiliations of the suspects have not been independently verified.
