Goa, July 29 -- In a major breakthrough, Indian security forces have neutralized three top Pakistani terrorists-including the mastermind behind the deadly April 22 Pahalgam attack-during a high-intensity encounter in Jammu & Kashmir's Dachigam National Park.

The operation was launched after Indian intelligence agencies intercepted a suspicious communication on July 11, near Dachigam, linking it to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which killed 25 tourists and a local pony operator. The input set off an extensive multi-agency search and combing operation across the dense forests and rugged terrain of the region.

On the morning of July 28, a joint team of the 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 4 Para Commandos tracked down the suspects to the Harwan ar...