Pahalgam Attack Suspect Hashim Moosa Killed In J&K, Identified As Ex-Pak Army Havildar

Security forces on Wednesday recovered the body of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa from the general area of Palmaidan in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, along with war-like stores.

According to sources, Mohammad Asif was born on March 7, 1980, and joined the Pakistan Army in 2000 under service number PA-3106947. He later retired from the force with the rank of Havildar.

Sources said Asif was inducted into the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) in 2005 and served with the 4 Commando “Yalgar” Battalion. From 2006 onwards, he was posted to Balochistan, where he reportedly participated in around 10 operations against Baloch insurgents and was credited with 13 personal kills.

Between 2006 and 2009, Asif also served as a member of the VVIP Security Team of former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, sources added.

The information and CNIC card issued on September 12, 2020, identify Hashim Moosa as Mohammad Asif, a former Pakistan Army Havildar and SSG operative with experience in counter-insurgency operations, United Nations deployments, VVIP security assignments and specialised weapons training, sources said.

Sources further claimed that after retiring from military service in 2023, Mohammad Asif was inducted into Lashkar-e-Taiba command structures in Jammu and Kashmir.

The identification of Hashim Moosa as Mohammad Asif is based on details available in documents, including the CNIC card issued on September 12, 2020, and information related to his military background, sources said.

The Srinagar-based Chinar Corps confirmed the recovery of the body.

"During the search early morning in General Area Palmaidan, the body of a Pak-based Lashkar-e-Taiba ( LeT) terrorist, identified as Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa, was recovered along with war-like stores."

The Army and other security agencies had launched OP KORAG in the Yousmarg area on Wednesday based on specific intelligence input. A Joint Search Operation was launched after vigilant troops observed suspicious activity. Upon being challenged, terrorists opened fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire during which Hashim Moosa was neutralised.

According to the update issued by the security forces, the operation remained underway, with personnel continuing search operations in the area.

Moosa had been named among the suspects suspected of involvement in the 2025 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 tourists were killed. Jammu and Kashmir Police had announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Pakistan nationals and LeT terrorists Adil Hussain Thoker, Ali Bhai and Hashim Musa following the terror attack.

According to sources in the security agencies, Hashim Moosa had served as a para-commando in Pakistan’s Special Service Group.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had earlier chargesheeted seven accused in the Pahalgam terror attack case, including the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its alias The Resistance Front (TRF), both of which are proscribed terrorist organisations.

The NIA detailed Pakistan’s conspiracy roles and charged the banned LeT/TRF as a legal entity for its role in planning, facilitating and executing the Pahalgam attack. Pakistani handler terrorist Sajid Jatt is also named as an accused in the 1,597-page chargesheet.