Hashim Moosa (right) killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam districtNEW DELHI: Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa, wanted for his alleged role in the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district on Wednesday. Moosa was killed during a joint operation by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Korag area of Yousmarg.

His body was later recovered from the general area of Palmaidan along with war-like stores, according to the Army's Chinar Corps. Moosa's killing has brought renewed focus on the background of the LeT terrorist, who security agencies had identified as one of the key suspects in the Pahalgam attack and linked to other terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

Who was Hashim Moosa? Moosa was a Pakistani LeT terrorist wanted in connection with the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed.

P. Vaid on Wednesday described Moosa as a highly trained terrorist and alleged that his footprints had surfaced in several attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, including attacks in the Poonch region and the Pahalgam attack.

Vaid said Moosa was considered the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack and described him as a Pakistani national and a commando-trained terrorist specialising in jungle warfare and guerrilla operations. Is Hashim Moosa an ex-SSG commando?

One of the key aspects of Moosa's background now being examined is his alleged connection with Pakistan's military. News agency ANI also quotes security agency sources stating that Moosa had served as a para-commando in Pakistan's Special Service Group (SSG) where he held the rank of Havildar.

Following his retirement from the SSG in 2023, he joined the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and infiltrated into India. Vaid described Moosa as a highly trained commando specialising in ambushes and guerrilla-style attacks.

He alleged that Moosa's footprints had been seen in attacks in Poonch, DKG, Bhimber Gali, the Gulmarg attack and the Reasi attack on pilgrims. The alleged SSG connection could shed further light on Moosa's training and his role within the LeT network, but the military background remains a matter of investigation.

What attacks is Moosa linked to? The Pahalgam attack took place on April 22, 2025, when terrorists targeted tourists at Baisaran Valley.