After the brutal terror attack in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley that killed at least 26 people, Jammu and Kashmir police have identified the terrorists behind the attack and released their sketches. While two of them are Pakistani nationals, one is a South Kashmir resident who did extensive recce for them. Police have identified the three as Hashim Musa alias Suleiman and Ali Bhai alias Talha from Pakistan, and Adil Hussain Thoker, who is a resident of Anantnag. All three have a reward of Rs 20 lakh on them.
Police have identified Hashim Musa as the key conspirator behind the attack. He infiltrated India in September 2023 and has been active in Jammu and Kashmir for nearly two years, primarily operating in the Budgam district, near Srinagar, reported The Indian Express. He has since been involved in at least three attacks on security forces and non-locals, HT quoted NIA officials as saying.
Some reports also suggest that he might be working with multiple terrorist outfits backed by Pakistan in the Valley, including but not limited to Lashkar-e-Taiba.
According to a report by The Times of India (TOI), Musa is a former para-commando of the Pakistan Army’s Special Service Group (SSG). “It is possible that he was loaned by Pakistan special forces, like Special Service Group (SSG) to LeT,” said one officer as per the outlet.
A senior official told TOI that Musa’s army background came to light after they interrogated 15 Kashmiri over ground workers (OGWs) on suspicion of assisting terrorists. They, as per officials, aided terrorists with logistics and reconnaissance.
These developments, the report said, point to the role of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the Pahalgam terror attack. The officer added that Pakistan was also behind similar attacks in the Valley.
One in October of 2024 in Gagangir, Ganderbal, claimed the lives of six non-locals and a doctor and the other at Buta Pathri, Baramulla, which killed two army personnel and two army porters.
Be it the October 2024 attacks or the recent Pahalgam attack, Musa is identified as the key perpetrator behind all three.
