Following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22nd, posters have appeared across the Kashmir Valley announcing a reward of Rs 20 lakh for credible information leading to the arrest of the terrorists involved. The announcement comes with a guarantee of complete anonymity for informers, signaling a determined effort by security forces to dismantle the network responsible for the attack.
Investigations into the Pahalgam incident have revealed a strong Pakistani connection, with one of the key suspects, Hashim Musa, identified as a former member of the Pakistan Army’s Para Forces. Sources indicate that Musa, along with another Pakistani terrorist, Ali Bhai, and two local accomplices, Adil Thoker and Asif Shaikh, were directly involved in the attack. Interrogation of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) suggests the involvement of additional Pakistani terrorists.
Hashim Musa, described as a particularly dangerous terrorist, reportedly joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) after being dismissed from the Pakistan Army. He is believed to have infiltrated into Kashmir in September 2023 and has been operating primarily in the forst area’s, near Srinagar. Security sources believe Musa’s recruitment into LeT may have been orchestrated by Pakistan Army’s Special Service Group (SSG) to bolster the terror outfit’s operations in Kashmir.
“Musa is a trained para commando with expertise in unconventional warfare and covert operations,” said a source posted as senior security official in Kashmir. “He possesses advanced skills in handling sophisticated weapons, hand-to-hand combat, navigation, and survival.”
Information regarding Musa’s SSG background surfaced during the interrogation of 14 Kashmiri OGWs suspected of providing logistical support and conducting reconnaissance for the terrorists.
Security sources told News24 that the role of the Pakistan Army and ISI is becoming increasingly evident, drawing parallels with the October 2024 attacks in Sonmarg and Bothapathri Gulmarg, where six non-locals, working in the Z-Morh tunnel including a doctor, two Indian Army personnel, and two Army porters, were killed. Musa is believed to have been involved in three major attacks during 2024.
