India News
The brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Jammu & Kashmir, is reportedly linked to Pakistan-based banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. The mastermind behind this deadly ambush has been identified as Saifullah Kasuri alias Khalid, a top Lashkar commander, according to intelligence reports.
Khalid, said to be a hardened terrorist from Pakistan’s Punjab province, is reportedly operating out of Islamabad and is known to have close ties with both the ISI and the Pakistan Army. Alongside Khalid, two other individuals from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) were also involved in planning the attack, as per national intelligence agencies.
On Tuesday afternoon, terrorists suddenly emerged from the forest near Baisaran, also known as "Mini Switzerland", and indiscriminately opened fire on tourists. Sparing women and children, the gunmen targeted and gunned down all visible male tourists. The attack claimed the lives of around 28 tourists, with eyewitnesses reporting that three to four terrorists carried out the massacre.
The NIA (National Investigation Agency) has since reached the site and begun gathering critical evidence. Meanwhile, security agencies released images of four terrorists believed to be involved in the attack. The identified names include Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha. Notably, Asif Fauji is a retired soldier from the Pakistan Army, further cementing suspicions of direct Pakistani involvement.
Intelligence suggests all four are connected to Lashkar-e-Taiba and that two of them may be foreign nationals. Witness statements confirmed that the attackers spoke in Pashto during the assault. Additionally, it has emerged that three local individuals supported the attackers, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation.
The presence of a retired Pakistani soldier among the attackers strongly points to this being part of a larger Pakistani conspiracy.
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