North India Statesman
In a massive counter-terrorism victory, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir gunned down a top Pakistani commander of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in an overnight gunfight in Budgam district. Identified by the Indian Army as Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa, the terrorist had carried a cash bounty of ₹20 lakh on his head and was prime-accused as a key mastermind behind the fatal Pahalgam terror attack.
The high-stakes mission, codenamed Operation Korag, was executed jointly by the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
How ‘Operation Korag’ Unfolded in Yousmarg
Acting on precise intelligence inputs regarding the movement of foreign terrorists in the high-altitude forested belts of central Kashmir, a joint cordon-and-search operation was launched on Tuesday night around the Korag area of Yousmarg in Budgam:
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First Contact: As security forces closed in on the hideout, vigilant troops detected suspicious movements. Upon being challenged, the terrorists opened heavy, indiscriminate automatic fire to break through the security perimeter.
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Fierce Exchange of Fire: Security forces swiftly retaliated, establishing a tight outer cordon through the night to cut off escape routes along the dense forest ridges.
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Body and Arsenal Recovered: During the primary search operation early Wednesday morning in the Palmaidan sector, forces recovered Moosa’s body alongside a significant cache of “war-like stores,” including automatic rifles, ammunition, and survival gear.
Who Was Hashim Moosa? Former SSG Para-Commando
The neutralization of Hashim Moosa marks one of the most critical operational successes in the valley:
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Trained Commando Background: Intelligence profiles indicate Moosa was previously a trained para-commando in Pakistan’s elite Special Service Group (SSG) before infiltrating into Indian territory in September 2023.
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Longstanding Operative: For years, Moosa served as a chief operational coordinator across the Pir Panjal Valley, central, and south Kashmir, orchestrating tactical deployments for LeT and its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF).
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The Pahalgam Attack Link: Moosa was designated as a high-value target after being named in National Investigation Agency (NIA) chargesheets for actively facilitating, coordinating, and executing the deadly terror attack on tourists in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam.
Major Blow to Terror Ecosystem
Former Director General of Police S.P. Vaid commended the security personnel for the surgical execution in unforgiving terrain, calling the commander’s death a crippling operational blow to Lashkar’s active logistics and transit network in Jammu and Kashmir.
Extensive combing and sanitization operations remain active across adjacent forest tracts of Yousmarg to rule out the presence of any accompanying infiltrators.
