Pahalgam Terrorist's First Photo Released: Attacker in Grey, Armed with Kalashnikov AK-47

The first image of a suspected terrorist linked to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 tourist lives, has surfaced. A video screengrab shows a man in a grey kurta holding what appears to be an Kalashnikov, also known as the AK-series rifle. Security officials suspect he was among those who carried out the attack, as reported by News18.

The deadly attack took place on Tuesday afternoon (April 22) at the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, a popular picnic spot in Kashmir. Terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists, killing 26 people, including two foreigners-one from the UAE and another from Nepal.

This is one of the worst terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.

According to intelligence agencies, Saifullah Kasuri-also known as Khalid-a top commander of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), planned the attack. He is believed to be operating from Gujranwala in Pakistan, as reported by India Today.

Two more terrorists based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) also reportedly helped plan the assault.

The attackers are suspected to be members of The Resistance Front (TRF), a group linked to LeT. They ambushed the tourists around 2:30 pm, targeting unarmed civilians.

Officials told the Press Trust of India that the terrorists may have entered Baisaran by crossing over from Kishtwar in Jammu and traveling through Kokernag in south Kashmir.