Terrorist’s House Demolished in Wake of Pahalgam Attack; Authorities Release Sketches of Suspects

 New Delhi | April 25, 2025 — In a significant development following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the residence of one of the prime suspects—believed to be affiliated with the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba—has been demolished. The house, located in South Kashmir’s Tral, belonged to Asif Fauji, also known as Asif Sheikh, who has been identified as one of three key operatives suspected of orchestrating the brutal assault that left 26 tourists dead in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

According to official sources, Asif Fauji, along with Suleman Shah and Abu Talha, has been under the radar of security agencies for their involvement in multiple terror-related incidents, including recent activity in the Poonch region. The trio operated under the aliases Moosa, Yunus, and Asif, respectively.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday released sketches of the three suspects based on eyewitness descriptions gathered from the scene of the attack. These visuals are expected to aid ongoing manhunt operations and help the public in identifying the perpetrators.

The attack, believed to have been executed by The Resistance Front (TRF)—a shadow group of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba—was timed during a sensitive diplomatic period, coinciding with U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s visit to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Saudi Arabia. Although the TRF has not officially claimed responsibility, early intelligence assessments indicate its likely involvement. Unconfirmed reports also point to Saifullah Kasuri, alias Khalid, a senior Lashkar commander, as the possible mastermind—though authorities have not issued a formal confirmation.

This latest act of terror has drawn attention to escalating regional tensions, especially following recent provocative statements by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, who referred to Kashmir as Pakistan’s "jugular vein" during an address at the Overseas Pakistani Convention on April 16.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) swiftly condemned the remarks, asserting India’s sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir. "How can anything foreign be considered part of a jugular vein? Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory of India. Its only connection to Pakistan is the expectation that Pakistan vacates the territories it illegally occupies," an MEA spokesperson said in a strongly worded response.

As the investigation into the Pahalgam attack intensifies, the Indian security establishment is expected to escalate counter-terror measures in the Kashmir Valley. The demolition of the suspect’s residence signals a decisive shift in the government’s policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and those providing shelter to perpetrators.