New Delhi: Terrorists involved in the recent Pahalgam attack reportedly used the Alpine Quest GPS app to navigate their way through dense forests to reach Baisaran Valley undetected.
Reports suggested that the Alpine Quest app, which functions both online and offline, played a crucial role in enabling the terrorists to chart a discreet path through mountainous terrain, bypassing conventional surveillance.
Unlike regular navigation tools such as Google Maps, Alpine Quest supports offline route planning and is widely used for outdoor activities such as trekking and hiking. This capability reportedly allowed the attackers to avoid detection while moving through the rugged terrain.
Intelligence inputs suggested that involvement of Pakistan-based handlers in training the terrorists to use the application effectively.
Furthermore, allegations have emerged that the Pakistan Army played a role in facilitating modifications to the app’s usage protocols for tactical purposes. Encrypted radio devices were also used by the terrorists to maintain communication, helping them remain off-grid.
Investigators are now analysing the digital footprints left behind through the app and related communication channels. Initial findings suggest that the attackers were being monitored remotely from safe houses located in Muzaffarabad and Karachi.
Officials further stated that Alpine Quest has been previously used by terrorist operatives in other attacks across Jammu & Kashmir.
Also read –
Xiaomi to Integrate Indus Appstore in India, Replacing GetApps
