The Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, 2025, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including 24 Indian tourists, one Nepali national, and a local guide. The assailants, identified as members of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, included Hashim Musa, a former paratrooper of the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG), who joined the group after his dismissal from military service. AP News+4New York Post+4www.ndtv.com+4Wikipedia
The attack has significantly escalated tensions between India and Pakistan. India has accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, while Pakistan denies involvement and calls for a neutral investigation. In response, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, downgraded diplomatic ties, and closed the main border crossing. Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines. The Guardian+2Reuters+2Reuters+2The Guardian+5Reuters+5Reuters+5
S Jaishankar and Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis had a telephone conversation.
PM Modi said, “Our time is limited and the goals are big.”
Hashim Musa, one of the terrorists who killed innocent people in Pahalgam last week, is reportedly a former paratrooper of the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG).
Musa’s background came to light after the interrogation of 15 ground workers (OGWs) from Kashmir, who are suspected of having helped the terrorists. Officials believe that these workers provided logistical and reconnaissance support to terrorists.
According to the report, a senior officer said that the revelation about Musa’s background in the Pakistan Army implied the involvement of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) in the Pahalgam terror attack. The ISI was allegedly involved in other attacks as well.
One of them is the October 2024 terror attacks in Gagangir, Ganderbal, in which six non-locals and a doctor were killed. The second is the attack in Bhuta Patri, Baramulla, in which two army personnel and two army porters died.
The investigation has revealed the role played by a local network of OGW and terror facilitators in South Kashmir in spreading terror in the valley. These people provide the terrorists with food, shelter, hideouts, and transportation of weapons. They helped them to carry out detailed reconnaissance of the attack site and locate the hideouts before and after the attack.
The incident has also led to increased military activity along the Line of Control, with both nations exchanging gunfire and conducting heightened security operations. International actors, including the UN and the United States, have urged both countries to exercise restraint and seek a peaceful resolution. Reuters+1RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty+1Reuters+2The Guardian+2Reuters+2
The Pahalgam attack underscores the ongoing volatility in the Kashmir region and the complex dynamics between India and Pakistan.
