There was a terror strike that turned out to be a fatal occurrence in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, since it has gone international. The Pakistan-backed militant attack that killed 26 innocent tourists, the attack was claimed by one of the most prominent terror outfits, The Resistance Front (TRF). But more shocking is what culminated in the attack—something that is now giving rise to serious security concerns.
The Quiet Satellite Deal Before the Bloodshed
Satellite images of the area where Pahalgam was located were ordered months prior to the terror attack from an American firm, Maxar Technologies. They are globally recognized for pinhole-tight satellite photographs with high definition, that even preserve 15-centimeter details. The first bulk order of pictures was ordered in February 2025. And then a subsequent order was given ten days prior to the attack on April 12.
These were not arbitrary instructions. The instructions were given to Baisaran Valley, a central section of the Pahalgam region. Interestingly enough, this pattern had begun as early as last June, which hinted at something fishy going on.
Maxar’s Stunning Client: A Pakistani Tech Firm
Drilling deeper, it was revealed that Maxar had entered into an agreement with a Pakistani firm named Business System International Pvt. Ltd. Obaidullah Syed is the man who stands behind this company. He has a business firm dealing in geographic and location data. It sounds like a bog-standard tech arrangement at first glance. But the background of Syed tells otherwise.
A Man with a Tainted Past in the U.S.
Syed is not an ordinary businessman. He has a criminal record in America. An American court had convicted him in a case against Pakistan’s nuclear program. He had sold high-performance computer hardware and tailor-made software illicitly. This is scarier than what use was made of the satellite photographs.
Sensitive Indian Areas Also Caught
The report did not limit itself just to Pahalgam. Other key districts such as Pulwama, Anantnag, Rajouri, Poonch and Baramulla were targeted through these image orders as well. All of the high-definition images began with a cost of three lakh rupees and increased depending on the clarity.
India May Seek Explanation from Maxar
Although it has not yet been officially established whether these photographs were directly used in the preparation of the April 22 attack, it is a proposal which India can advance to Maxar, experts claim. As a scientist at ISRO explained, satellite surveillance has become the cornerstone of new-age intelligence.
And here too, it might have been the silent witness behind a deadly plan.