India demolishes homes of terrorists after deadly Pahalgam attack

In a sweeping crackdown following the deadliest terrorist attack in India since 2008, forces have demolished the homes of two men responsible for the massacre of 28 tourists in Pahalgam earlier this week.

The homes of Adil Hussain Thoker in Bijbehara and Asif Sheikh in Tral were razed by security forces who used improvised explosive devices and bulldozers in the operation. Officials confirmed the demolitions were part of a massive push to dismantle the infrastructure that supports cross-border terrorism in the region.

The attack, claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy outfit of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has reignited tensions between India and Pakistan. Sketches of the three suspected attackers—Thoker, and two Pakistani nationals, Ali Bhai and Hashim Musa—have been circulated, with a reward of Rs 20 lakh offered for information leading to their capture.

On the diplomatic front, India has taken an aggressive posture. The Modi government has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a longstanding water-sharing agreement with Pakistan, and ordered all Pakistani nationals to leave the country by April 27. Diplomatic ties have been downgraded and high-level military and security meetings are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Srinagar to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He will visit the site of the Pahalgam attack.

On Thursday, addressing a gathering in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers.

Indian intelligence officials have directly linked the deadly terrorist attack to Hafiz Saeed, the notorious chief of LeT. India is also considering a range of retaliatory measures, even as the attack marks a sharp escalation in cross-border tensions and is likely to strain the already fraught India-Pakistan relationship further.

 

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