In a major revelation concerning the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, investigators have identified one of the two Pakistani terrorists involved as Hashim Musa, a former member of the Pakistan Army’s elite Para Forces, security sources disclosed on Tuesday.
Musa, reportedly dismissed from the Pakistan Army before joining the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is said to have infiltrated into India in September 2023. His area of operation was primarily Budgam district, near Srinagar. Sources believe his association with LeT may have been orchestrated by Pakistan Army’s Special Service Group (SSG) to bolster the outfit’s operations in Kashmir.
Trained in unconventional warfare and covert operations, Musa’s background as a para commando makes him highly proficient in sophisticated weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, and survival skills, according to a senior security official.
His identity and training background came to light during the interrogation of one of 14 Kashmiri Over Ground Workers (OGWs) who were arrested in connection with the attack. These OGWs allegedly provided logistical support, shelter, and conducted reconnaissance for the attackers.
Sources in the security establishment have pointed out that the direct involvement of Pakistan’s Army and ISI is now “evident,” citing similarities with a series of attacks in October 2024, where six non-locals, a doctor, two Army personnel, and two porters were killed. Musa is also believed to have played a role in three attacks in 2024.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has confirmed the involvement of a local terror module in south Kashmir, which assisted the Pahalgam attackers with logistics and possibly helped transport the weapons used in the massacre.
Investigators have confirmed the direct roles of four individuals in the April 22 attack: Pakistani nationals Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai, and local operatives Adil Thoker and Asif Shaikh. However, ongoing interrogations suggest the involvement of more Pakistani infiltrators.
The April 22 shooting—where terrorists opened fire on a popular meadow near the Pahalgam tourist zone—has become the deadliest terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama attack, triggering widespread fear and renewed calls for strong retaliatory measures.
