In a high-impact counter-terror strike under Operation Mahadev, the Indian Army’s elite special forces have neutralized Hashim Musa, a former Pakistani para commando turned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, and the alleged mastermind of the brutal Pahalgam attack that shook the Valley on April 22.
Musa was killed in a joint operation between the Army and J&K Police in the dense Dachigam forests, where three LeT operatives were gunned down. Top intelligence sources have confirmed that Musa’s identity was corroborated using drone surveillance, satellite phone intercepts, and witness testimonies from recently arrested local harbourers on whom the police has announced Rs. 20 Lakh for credible information.
From Pakistan’s SSG to Kashmir’s Most Wanted
Once a part of Pakistan’s shadowy Special Service Group (SSG), Hashim Musa infiltrated India in 2022, reportedly ‘loaned’ to Lashkar by Pakistan’s military intelligence. His combat training, high-altitude warfare expertise, and ability to stay undetected for months made him a prized asset in the LeT’s jihadi ranks.
For nearly two years, he operated with clinical precision, building sleeper cells, coordinating cross-border arms drops, and planning high-value strikes. He had been particularly active in the Budgam district, maintaining close proximity to Srinagar while eluding security agencies.
The Butcher of Sonmarg and the Brains Behind Pahalgam
Hashim Musa was no stranger to bloodshed. Before orchestrating the Pahalgam massacre that killed several civilians, Musa was the alleged mastermind of the 2023 Sonmarg Z-Modh tunnel attack, which resulted in the death of six labourers and a doctor. Officials had long believed he was behind the scenes- pulling strings, scouting targets, and plotting ambushes with ruthless precision.
He was also linked to several other attacks in Poonch and Rajouri, including the deadly assault on an Army truck in 2023.
A Local Link, But a Foreign Hand
Two locals from Pahalgam, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar were arrested by the NIA last month for aiding the attackers with food, shelter, and logistics in exchange for a few thousand rupees. However, top officials now confirm that no local terrorist participated directly in the killings. Their role, though criminal, was logistical as they were kept out of the operational loop.
A third suspect, Adil Hussain Thoker, was earlier under suspicion but has been cleared of involvement following a detailed probe.
Modus Operandi
In a significant breakthrough that helped pinpoint the terrorists‘ hideout, intelligence agencies were alerted when a Huawei satellite phone, previously linked to the Pahalgam attack, suddenly pinged after weeks of silence. The device had gone dark immediately after the terror strike, but just two days ago, it transmitted a signal, placing it deep inside the uninhabited Dachigam forest.
Acting swiftly on the coordinates, a joint operation was launched under Operation Mahadev, leading to the elimination of three terrorists. While identification was underway, one of the slain was confirmed to be Hashim Musa, the ex-Pakistani para commando and suspected mastermind of the Pahalgam massacre. The recovered equipment and intercepted communications further hinted at the trio’s affiliation with the Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Musa’s elimination under Operation Mahadev is being hailed as a major win by Indian forces. With the ghost commander out of the picture, one of Pakistan’s most audacious cross-border games has just suffered a severe blow.
