Pakistan’s Alleged Role in Pahalgam Terror Attack Unveiled as Investigation Deepens

 Srinagar, April 29, 2025,  – Investigations into the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam have uncovered significant evidence pointing to Pakistan’s direct involvement. Authorities have identified Hashim Musa, one of the three terrorists responsible for the assault that claimed 26 lives, as a former para commando of the Pakistan Army’s elite Special Service Group (SSG). Sources suggest that Musa may have been deployed to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), highlighting a potential state-sponsored nexus in the attack.

Musa’s military background was confirmed during the interrogation of 15 Kashmiri overground workers (OGWs), who are suspected of providing logistical support to the terrorists. As an SSG para commando, Musa is highly trained in unconventional warfare and covert operations, skills that likely contributed to the precision of the attack. Last week, the Jammu and Kashmir Police released sketches of Musa alongside two other suspects—Ali Bhai alias Talha and Adil Hussain Thoker—offering a combined reward of Rs 60 lakh for information leading to their capture.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken charge of the case, reconstructing the crime scene based on eyewitness accounts. All individuals present during the attack have been summoned for questioning. A recently emerged video, recorded by a tourist, captures the harrowing moment of the assault. The footage shows a zipline operator shouting “Allahu Akbar” before the firing began, prompting authorities to summon him for interrogation. The tourist, who was ziplining during the incident, recounted, “Firing started while I was mid-air. I didn’t realize it for about 20 seconds. Then I saw five to six people being shot. It was a terrorist attack.”

Security forces have intensified operations across Jammu and Kashmir, with a major focus on the dense forests of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama districts, as well as Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri, and Poonch. These areas are believed to harbor the fleeing terrorists, who may have shifted from Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow. Over 200 raids have targeted OGWs in the past three days, aiming to dismantle the network that aided the attackers. Sources indicate that 10 OGWs maintained encrypted communication with the terrorists during the assault, suggesting premeditated planning.

The operation, now in its sixth day, involves Indian Army and CRPF commandos, with intermittent gunfire reported in the forest regions. Authorities suspect Musa may have led the attack and played a role in local recruitment and radicalization. Meanwhile, ceasefire violations along the Line of Control for five consecutive nights have heightened tensions. As a precautionary measure, the Jammu and Kashmir government has closed 48 tourist destinations, advising visitors to avoid vulnerable areas despite a 90% cancellation rate following the attack.

The investigation continues to unfold, with security forces determined to neutralize the threat and uncover the full extent of the alleged Pakistan-ISI-LeT collaboration.