New Delhi: Was Hashim Musa alias Suleiman, one of two Pakistani terrorists identified by investigators in connection with the April 22 massacre of tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, ‘loaned’ to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) by the Pakistan Army?
There is no longer any doubt that Musa has served in Pakistan’s Para Special Forces, and is an expert in covert operations, like the one in Pahalgam. What is still not clear though is whether he joined the LeT after being thrown out of the Pakistan Army or was loaned to the banned terror outfit to carry out such attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pakistanis have not denied that Musa, whose sketch was among those of three terrorists released after the Pahalgam attack, served in the Special Service Group (SSG) of the Pakistan Army. The question that has now been raised is how he came to be with the other LeT terrorists.
Pakistan would have the world believe that he was dismissed from the SSG and joined the LeT by himself. Indian authorities are not convinced after interrogating the 14 Over Ground Workers (OGWs) or the LeT taken into custody after the terror strike.
According to the OGWs, Musa was serving in the SSG when he was ordered to join the LeT and lead this operation in Jammu and Kashmir. He possesses the kind of training to carry out such clandestine operations in enemy territory.
“Musa was clearly assigned by the Pakistani military establishment to lead the team and train them along the way in survival skills, handling of advanced weapons, explosives, equipment such as navigation aids and hand-to-hand combat. This is not the first time we have seen this happen. We have witnessed the role of personnel of Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) during infiltration attempts by terrorists. We have seen Pakistan Army regulars fighting alongside terrorists during the Kargil War,” a senior intelligence official said.
It is suspected that Musa infiltrated into India in September, 2023. His area of operations was then the Budgam district around Srinagar. He is suspected of being involved in at least three terror strikes in the Valley in 2024, including the killing of non-locals. The OGWs have said that he took his ‘team’ along for a recce of the Baisaran meadow before the terror strike.
Efforts are now being made to nab Musa alive, something that may be difficult. Maybe, that is one reason why security forces, pursuing the terrorists, were a bit hesitant to open fire on them on a few occasions, even after coming in contact. His capture will expose Pakistan’s involvement in the whole affair before the world.
