Ex-Pakistan SSG commando, highly trained LeT terrorist, Pahalgam mastermind: Who was Hashim Moosa; killed in J&K encounter | India News
NEW DELHI: Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa, wanted for his alleged role in the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday.Moosa was killed during a joint operation by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Korag area of Yousmarg. His body was later recovered from the general area of Palmaidan along with war-like stores, according to the Army’s Chinar Corps.Moosa’s killing has brought renewed focus on the background of the LeT terrorist, who security agencies had identified as one of the key suspects in the Pahalgam attack and linked to other terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
Who was Hashim Moosa?
Moosa was a Pakistani LeT terrorist wanted in connection with the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed.Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP S.P. Vaid on Wednesday described Moosa as a highly trained terrorist and alleged that his footprints had surfaced in several attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, including attacks in the Poonch region and the Pahalgam attack.Vaid said Moosa was considered the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack and described him as a Pakistani national and a commando-trained terrorist specialising in jungle warfare and guerrilla operations.
Is Hashim Moosa an ex-SSG commando?
One of the key aspects of Moosa’s background now being examined is his alleged connection with Pakistan’s military.News agency ANI also quotes security agency sources stating that Moosa had served as a para-commando in Pakistan’s Special Service Group (SSG) where he held the rank of Havildar. Following his retirement from the SSG in 2023, he joined the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and infiltrated into India.Vaid described Moosa as a highly trained commando specialising in ambushes and guerrilla-style attacks. He alleged that Moosa’s footprints had been seen in attacks in Poonch, DKG, Bhimber Gali, the Gulmarg attack and the Reasi attack on pilgrims.The alleged SSG connection could shed further light on Moosa’s training and his role within the LeT network, but the military background remains a matter of investigation.
What attacks is Moosa linked to?
The Pahalgam attack took place on April 22, 2025, when terrorists targeted tourists at Baisaran Valley. Twenty-six people were killed in the attack.According to the ANI report, Moosa was named as one of the key suspects in the attack and had been wanted by Jammu and Kashmir Police.The National Investigation Agency later chargesheeted seven accused in the case, including Pakistan-based LeT and The Resistance Front (TRF), which it charged as a legal entity for allegedly planning, facilitating and executing the attack.The NIA’s 1,597-page chargesheet also named Pakistani handler Sajid Jatt as an accused.The agency had said its investigation detailed the Pakistan-based conspiracy and the roles of those accused in the attack.
How was Moosa killed?
Security forces launched Operation Korag in the Yousmarg area of Budgam following specific intelligence inputs about terrorist movement.During the joint search operation, troops observed suspicious activity and challenged the terrorists. The terrorists opened fire, triggering an encounter in which Moosa was killed.The operation involved the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF.The search operation continued after the encounter, with security personnel checking the surrounding area for any additional terrorist presence. During the search, Moosa’s body was recovered from Palmaidan along with war-like stores, according to the Chinar Corps.
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Pahalgam victim’s daughter calls it ‘one chapter’ closed
The killing also drew a reaction from Asavari Jagdale, daughter of Pahalgam attack victim Santosh Jagdale.Speaking to ANI, Jagdale thanked the Army and intelligence agencies for the operation and recalled the April 22 attack in which 26 people were killed.She described the killing as a step towards justice but said the legal process must continue until the case reaches its final verdict.“I would say that one chapter of the case has ended,” she said.Jagdale also urged security agencies to continue operations against terrorists and said the 26 families would consider the case fully closed only after completion of the legal proceedings.
