THE CLIFF NEWS

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.

A traditional Shikara gliding across the waters of Dal Lake with the Hazratbal shrine in the backdrop paints a serene image of Srinagar. But beneath the surface, tensions are escalating in Kashmir following a deadly terrorist attack last week that claimed 26 lives in Pahalgam. In response to the attack, which officials say specifically targeted Hindu tourists, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has shut down 48 of the region’s 87 tourist destinations. The government order, reviewed by Reuters, aims to bolster security across the insurgency-affected region. Enhanced security measures have been put in place at the remaining open sites. No timeline for reopening has been provided, and government officials have not issued an official comment. The April 22 Pahalgam attack saw armed assailants isolate male tourists, ask their names, and shoot them at close range. Two of the three attackers have been identified by Indian authorities as Pakistani militants. Pakistan, however, has denied involvement, calling for an impartial international probe. The incident has reignited hostilities between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, who both claim Kashmir in full but govern parts of it. India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir, while Pakistan maintains it offers only moral and diplomatic support to the region’s self-determination movement. In the aftermath, both countries have taken retaliatory measures. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty—a long-standing river-sharing agreement—while Pakistan responded by closing its airspace to Indian aircraft. Adding to the volatile atmosphere, the Indian Army reported “unprovoked” small arms fire from several Pakistani posts along the Line of Control (LoC) for a fifth consecutive day. No casualties were reported, and the Pakistani military has yet to respond. Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, told Reuters on Monday that a military incursion by India appeared imminent. As a precaution, Pakistan has reportedly reinforced its forces along the border. The violence has dealt a severe blow to Kashmir’s booming tourism industry, which had seen a resurgence as insurgency-related incidents declined in recent years. With the busy summer season just beginning, fear and uncertainty have gripped visitors, prompting many to cut short their vacations and leave the valley.