(Image source from: News.abplive.com)
Security officials have pinpointed three terrorists implicated in the Pahalgam attack, during which 25 tourists and a local pony ride operator were brutally killed. Of the suspects, two—Hafeez Saeed, the leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and his deputy Saifullah Kasuri—are located in Pakistan, while the third, Hashim Moosa, is believed to be hiding in Jammu and Kashmir. According to sources within the security framework, Moosa is thought to be concealed in the forests of southern Kashmir, prompting a comprehensive operation to locate him. Authorities are concerned he may attempt to escape to Pakistan. The Jammu and Kashmir police have announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for any leads regarding Hashim Moosa, guaranteeing the confidentiality of the informant's identity.
Reports indicate that the aim is to apprehend Hashim Moosa alive, which would substantiate Pakistan's involvement in this horrific attack. Moosa reportedly served as a para-commando in Pakistan's Special Service Group before joining Lashkar-e-Taiba, participating in numerous terrorist activities. It is believed he entered India in 2023. Last October, he was linked to a terrorist act in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir that resulted in seven fatalities and was also connected to an incident in Baramullah that claimed the lives of four security personnel. Security agencies have associated him with at least six attacks in the region.
The inquiry into the Pahalgam incident has indicated that Hashim Moosa was a principal figure in the heinous assault on innocent civilians. Other accomplices have been identified as Adil Thoker and Asif Sheikh, for whom police have also put a reward of Rs 20 lakh. The Pahalgam tragedy has severely strained Indo-Pak relations, leading New Delhi to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty and visa services for Pakistani citizens. In retaliation, Islamabad has threatened to revoke all bilateral agreements, including the Simla Agreement that affirms the Line of Control.
