New Delhi / Anantnag — Adil Hussain Thoker, son of Wali Mohammad Thoker from Anantnag, has been identified as the mastermind behind the recent terror attack in Baisaran near Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of at least 26 tourists on April 22. According to highly placed sources, Adil orchestrated the assault in collaboration with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commanders Saifullah Kasuri and Abu Musa.
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Adil, currently absconding, is the subject of an extensive search operation launched by Indian security forces.
Links to Terrorism Traced Back to 2018
Adil first came under the radar in 2018 after being spotted at the funerals of slain terrorists in south Kashmir. Later that year, while still in his teens, he traveled to Pakistan via Wagah on a Valid Travel Document (VTD) and subsequently disappeared. Intelligence reports soon indicated that he had joined LeT, the banned terror organization based in Pakistan.
By mid-2024, Adil resurfaced in the Rajouri-Poonch region and was later seen operating alongside infiltrated terrorist groups earlier this year. Officials confirmed that he re-entered India across the Line of Control in 2024 and was active in the Doda and Kishtwar areas of Jammu.
Recent Presence in Baisaran Confirmed
Sources revealed that Adil had been spotted in the Baisaran area shortly before the attack. Though affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), he is believed to work closely with The Resistance Front (TRF), a LeT proxy group that has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam massacre.
Adil was reportedly a close associate of slain terrorist commander Uzair, who was involved in the Kokernag Gadool attack.
During the Pahalgam attack, four to five terrorists — including Adil and two other locals — armed with U.S.-made M4 rifles and AK-47/56 weapons, targeted civilians. Eyewitness accounts have identified Adil as one of the assailants seen firing at the victims. The attackers, some of whom were disguised in army fatigues, later fled into the dense pine forests of the Pir Panjal range.
Authorities have also identified 19 Overground Workers (OGWs) from Anantnag district for their involvement in facilitating the attack. In a decisive move, Adil's residence was demolished on Thursday as part of the ongoing crackdown.
Broader Diplomatic Ramifications
The terror attack has further strained India-Pakistan relations. In response, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting on Friday at his New Delhi residence to deliberate India's next steps, including the future of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which has been suspended. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil, and senior officials from multiple ministries.
India has vowed a firm response both diplomatically and on the ground as tensions escalate following the heinous Pahalgam attack.
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