Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa, believed to be one of the key masterminds of the Pahalgam terror attack, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district.
His body was recovered on Wednesday along with war-like stores during a search operation in the Palmaidan area, the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said in a post on X.
“During the search early morning in General Area Palmaidan, body of Pak-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, identified as Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa, recovered along with war-like stores,” the Chinar Corps said.
On Tuesday, the Army and other security agencies launched Operation Korag in the Yousmarg area following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists and suspicious activities.
When security forces launched the search operation, the hiding terrorists opened fire, triggering a fierce gun battle in which Hashim Moosa was neutralised. The operation continued in the area, with security personnel carrying out further searches.
Moosa had been named among the three key suspects involved in the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed after terrorists allegedly separated victims and targeted them based on their religious identity.
While the other two terrorists were subsequently killed by security forces, Moosa remained at large. The Jammu and Kashmir Police had earlier announced a reward of ₹20 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
According to reports, Moosa had previously served as a para-commando in Pakistan’s Special Service Group. After leaving the military, he is believed to have joined the LeT and infiltrated into India in September 2023. His area of operation was primarily in Kashmir’s Budgam district.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in its chargesheet, detailed the alleged role of Pakistan-based operatives in the conspiracy and named the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba and its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF), in connection with the planning, facilitation and execution of the Pahalgam attack.
