New Delhi: Indian investigative agencies have established that a former Pakistan Army Para Commando was involved in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. According to intelligence sources, Hashim Musa, one of the four terrorists involved in the assault, previously served in Pakistan’s elite Special Services Group (SSG) before joining the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit.
Officials said Hashim Musa now operates as a full-time militant and was selected by top handlers of The Resistance Front (TRF)—a proxy of LeT—to spearhead the attack. His involvement underscores what Indian agencies describe as the growing nexus between the Pakistan military and terrorist organizations operating across the border.
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Local Validation and Concrete Evidence
Post-attack, the Indian Army detained hundreds of individuals in the region for questioning. Investigators confirmed that many locals were familiar with Musa and acknowledged his prior military background. Several Over Ground Workers (OGWs) reportedly confirmed Musa’s past affiliation with the Pakistani military and his transition into terrorism.
A senior officer associated with the investigation stated that Musa initially supported terror logistics before evolving into an operational militant. “His case is a clear example of Pakistan’s military infrastructure being leveraged to train and deploy terrorists in India,” the officer said.
Terrorists Trained for Prolonged Infiltration
Investigators revealed that the terrorists undertook a 22-hour trek from the Kokernag forests to the Baisaran valley to reach Pahalgam, indicating a high degree of endurance and training. Such routes, they said, require advanced survival and navigation skills consistent with special forces training.
The involvement of former commandos in such operations is concerning, officials said, given their exposure to non-conventional warfare tactics and covert operational skills. The militants reportedly underwent physical and psychological conditioning, with training in modern weaponry and close combat. Apart from Musa, two other operatives—Junaid Bhatt and Arbaaz Mir—are also believed to have received similar military-style training.
Security forces continue to pursue the attackers aggressively. Investigators confirmed that the militants have evaded capture on at least four occasions despite near-encounters, reflecting both their training and support network.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is being briefed regularly, and security has been heightened across sensitive zones in Jammu and Kashmir as counter-insurgency operations continue.