Who Is Hashim Musa? The Man Behind Pahalgam Terrorist Attack That Killed 26

A week after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the details of Hashim Musa, the Pakistani terrorist behind the Pahalgam attack, have emerged.

Who Is Hashim Musa?

As per a report in The Times of India, he is a former para commando of the Pakistan Army's Special Forces. Musa, who is now a hardcore operative of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was sent to Kashmir on a mission to target non-locals and security personnel.

"It is possible that he was loaned by the Pakistan special forces like the Special Service Group (SSG), to the LeT," the English daily quoted an officer of the security establishment as saying.

Security officials suspect that Musa may have been "loaned" to LeT by Pakistan's elite Special Service Group (SSG), known for expertise in covert warfare. SSG commandos undergo rigorous training in unconventional combat, survival tactics, and high-tech weaponry, making them deadly assets for terrorist operations.

Musa's military background came to light during the interrogation of 15 overground workers (OGWs) who aided the attackers with logistics and reconnaissance. His involvement has reinforced suspicions of Pakistan's ISI backing the Pahalgam attack, as well as previous strikes in Kashmir, including: October 2024 Gagangir (Ganderbal) attack and Baramulla attack.

It has to be noted that Musa is a common link in all three attacks. While his associates-Pak-trained locals Junaid Ahmad Bhat and Arbaaz Mir-were neutralized in late 2024, Musa remained active and orchestrated the Baisaran massacre, killing 26 civilians, including 25 tourists, the report added.

Local Network Uncovered

The probe revealed a south Kashmir-based OGW network that provided shelter, weapons transport, and reconnaissance for the Pahalgam attack. Two Pakistani terrorists (Musa and Ali Bhai) and two locals (Adil Thoker and Asif Shaikh) have been identified, but interrogations suggest more foreign terrorists may be involved.

Security forces have narrowed search operations to a specific jungle area near Baisaran, with the attackers' hideout "reasonably lnown." An officer stated, "The search has now been narrowed to a limited area,"

Meanwhile, tensions between India and Pakistan have risen following the terrorist attack, which is considered the deadliest since the scrapping of Article 370.

India has downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and suspended the Indus Water Treaty. In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan has suspended all treaties and ties and closed its airspace for India.