Early Times Report
Jammu, May 22: A month after the brutal terror attack in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, South Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists, a senior Pakistani journalist, Asif Iqbal, has made a shocking revelation.
In a TV programme, Iqbal disclosed that two of the terrorists involved in the April 22 massacre, identified as Talha Ali and Asif, were not only Pakistani nationals but also members of the Pakistan Army’s elite commando unit. This claim has reignited tensions between India and Pakistan, raising serious questions about the role of state actors in the attack.
The attack, described as one of the deadliest in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing, saw five armed terrorists targeting unarmed tourists in the picturesque Baisaran Valley, often referred to as "Mini Switzerland" for its scenic beauty.
The assailants, armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, opened indiscriminate fire, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. The Resistance Front (TRF), a known offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), initially claimed responsibility, citing opposition to non-local settlements in Kashmir following the revocation of Article 370 in 2019. However, Iqbal’s revelation points to a deeper and more alarming involvement of Pakistan’s military apparatus.
According to Iqbal, Talha Ali, also known as Ali Bhai, and Asif, referred to as Asif Fauji, were highly trained commandos from the Pakistan Army’s Special Service Group (SSG).
“These were not ordinary terrorists. Talha Ali and Asif were part of the Pakistan Army’s commando unit, trained in covert operations and unconventional warfare,” Iqbal stated. He further alleged that their involvement was indicative of a broader strategy orchestrated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to destabilize the region.
The National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) had earlier confirmed the involvement of LeT and ISI in the attack, with two Pakistani nationals, Hashim Musa (alias Suleman) and Ali Bhai, maintaining consistent communication with handlers across the border.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police had previously identified four terrorists involved in the attack: Talha Ali (Ali Bhai), Asif Fauji, Adil Hussain Thoker (a resident of Anantnag), and Ahsan (a resident of Pulwama).
A fifth suspect, Hashim Musa, a former para-commando who joined LeT, remains at large, believed to be hiding in the dense forests of South Kashmir. The police have announced a Rs 20 lakh reward for information leading to his capture, assuring anonymity for informants. |
