logo
Who was Hashim Musa, Pahalgam mastermind killed while napping in J&K?

Who was Hashim Musa, Pahalgam mastermind killed while napping in J&K?

India Today28-07-2025
The man who singled out Hindu men and shot them at point-blank range in front of their crying wives and children while they were holidaying in Pahalgam was killed while he was having a nap in his hideout on Monday. Suleiman Shah alias Hashim Musa, top Lashkar commander, was a key conspirator and executor of the barbaric attack in which 26 tourists were killed.advertisementMusa was also involved in the killing of seven people involved in the construction of the Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Sonmarg highway last year.He was among the three terrorists killed during Operation Mahadev in Jammu and Kashmir's Dachigam area near Mount Mahadev. The operation was led by a joint team of the Army and J&K Police. Around 17 grenades, one M4 carbine and two AK-47 rifles were recovered from the hideout of the terrorists.
MUSA'S PAKISTAN LINK
Musa, a former soldier in the Pakistani army's special forces, is believed to have received elite para-commando training in Pakistan, which effectively aided his terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, according to sources in the security establishment.Musa, believed to be in his late 20s, infiltrated Indian territory through the Kathua and Samba sectors. After infiltration, he became active in the Dera Ki Gali area of Rajouri-Poonch, where his Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) module is suspected of orchestrating numerous attacks on security forces over the past year.Pakistani para-commandos, particularly those trained by the Special Services Group (SSG), are renowned for their expertise in unconventional warfare, survival tactics, and mountain combat. Their training includes high-endurance operations, close-quarters battle (CQB), navigation through difficult terrain, and advanced evasion techniques, all of which appear to be reflected in Musa's operations.- Ends
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How The U.S. Rewired Pakistan's Air Force; Why That Legacy Still Matters Against India
How The U.S. Rewired Pakistan's Air Force; Why That Legacy Still Matters Against India

India.com

time8 minutes ago

  • India.com

How The U.S. Rewired Pakistan's Air Force; Why That Legacy Still Matters Against India

New Delhi: When Indian jets pounded Pakistani positions under Operation Sindoor, Islamabad's narrative tried to flip the script. Claims of tactical success echoed through Pakistani media, even as damage reports told a different story. But behind these optics, Pakistani defence analysts are pointing to a system that did not come from China, but from the United States nearly 70 years ago. Defence portal Quwa highlighted how the foundations of Pakistan's air force still rest on operational practices and doctrine handed down by the United States as far back as the 1950s. The report claims that what many today call 'software', mindset, structure and operational culture, was installed in the early days of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) by American advisors. That legacy has shaped PAF's command philosophy to this day. It even influenced the decision to move the Air Force Headquarters from Rawalpindi to Peshawar, giving the force its own command ecosystem, distinct from the army's shadow. How America Gave PAF Its Operational 'Software' According to Quwa, in the early 1950s, Pakistan's air force lacked both equipment and a professional framework. The turning point came with the 1950 Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement with the United States. Under this, Washington not only provided F-86 Sabre aircraft to Pakistan but also embedded an entire operational doctrine into the PAF. Considered the architect of a modern PAF, then Air Marshal Asghar Khan recognised that the United States was sending jets as well as exporting a full system. This included depot-level aircraft maintenance, rather than the traditional squadron-level model; strict safety regulations, based on U.S. Air Force protocols; and clearly separated departments for operations, maintenance and administration. This model replaced the older British system and gave Pakistan's air force an American-style command structure that is still in use today. According to Quwa, this is the backbone that allows the PAF to integrate foreign fighter jets, including the Chinese J-10CE, into its arsenal smoothly. The report argues that this inherited mindset enables faster pilot adaptation and more coherent training cycles, which translates into better performance during real combat situations. A Quiet Nod to the U.S., Not China While Pakistani media has hyped up the role of Chinese-origin J-10CE fighter jets in countering India's Rafales, Quwa takes a more nuanced position. It suggests that the real enabler was not Chinese technology, but American methodology. The systems laid down decades ago by the United States, it claims, allow the PAF to function as a streamlined and adaptable air force, something its regional rivals have had to build from scratch. This legacy also explains the PAF's ability to quickly operationalise new platforms. Pilots transitioning to newer aircraft often show higher mission-readiness because the doctrine standardises procedures across the force. And it was this very consistency, Quwa argues, that allowed Pakistan to mount any kind of coordinated air response during India's strikes. What Really Happened in the Skies? Despite Pakistan's claims, the outcomes of the recent aerial confrontations tell a more complex story. Islamabad managed to shoot down one Indian aircraft, but failed to intercept or prevent Indian strikes on nine strategic sites in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Indian Rafales inflicted heavy damage. In military terms, Quwa concedes, these results raise questions. One of the contributing factors was a misjudgement by Indian forces regarding the range of China's PL-15 missiles, a gap in calculation that Pakistan used to its advantage. Even then, say Indian analysts, PAF's performance could only be counted as successful if it had prevented India's deep-penetration airstrikes, not merely retaliated after the fact. A Legacy That Still Shapes Air Battles Pakistan's narrative of victory, critics say, may not hold up under scrutiny. But the story that emerges from Quwa's reporting is not about flashy dogfights or headline-grabbing missile launches. It is about how a 70-year-old framework continues to define one of South Asia's most professionalised air forces. In the end, as Quwa puts it, it was not Chinese, but American 'software' (a system of discipline, structure and long-term strategic thinking) that made the real difference.

"If Cow Statue Can Enter Parliament, Why Not A Living Cow?": Shankaracharya
"If Cow Statue Can Enter Parliament, Why Not A Living Cow?": Shankaracharya

NDTV

time37 minutes ago

  • NDTV

"If Cow Statue Can Enter Parliament, Why Not A Living Cow?": Shankaracharya

Mumbai: Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand has said that a cow should have been taken into the new Parliament building at Central Vista during its inauguration. "If a statue of a cow can enter Parliament, why can't a living cow be taken inside?" he asked reporters on Sunday. The seer said the Sengol held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while entering the new Parliament building showed a cow engraved on the sceptre. "A real cow should have also been taken into the building to bestow blessings. If there is a delay, we will take cows from all over the country and bring them to Parliament," he said, adding this would ensure the PM and the building receive blessings of a real cow. The Sengol is installed in the Lower House of the Parliament. He also demanded that the Maharashtra government immediately frame a protocol on cow felicitation. "The state has not yet declared how to honour the cow. It should finalise a protocol so that people can follow it, and also fix penalties for its violation," he said. The Shankaracharya demanded that every assembly constituency in India have a "Ramadham" — a cow shelter accommodating 100 cows. "A total of 4,123 Ramadhams will be built across the country. The shelters will focus on daily cow service, protection, and promoting indigenous breeds," he added. Those following the protocol while caring for cows would be financially rewarded. "A person taking care of 100 cows will receive Rs 2 lakh per month," he added. The Hindu pontiff further said that the Dharma Sansad has passed a congratulatory resolution in support of Hoshangabad MP Darshan Singh Chowdhary, who has demanded that the cow be declared as Rashtramata (Mother of the Nation). The Shankaracharya said people should support only those candidates who protect cows and work for legislation in their interest. "The present regime has not yet satisfied us. Cow slaughter must be completely stopped in India," he added. Addressing the language controversy, he said, "Hindi was first recognised for administrative use. The Marathi-speaking state was formed in 1960, and Marathi was recognised later. Hindi represents several dialects — the same applies to Marathi, which has borrowed from its dialects." The seer said any violence should be treated as a criminal offence. He demanded justice in the Malegaon blast case, stating that the real culprits must be punished. "It is ridiculous that the government is celebrating Amrit Kaal while cows who provide us with milk are being slaughtered. Those in government cannot be called our brothers unless they stand in support of cows," he said. PTI ND NSK ARU

Article 370 abrogation: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to hand over jobs to families of 250 terror victims
Article 370 abrogation: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to hand over jobs to families of 250 terror victims

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Article 370 abrogation: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to hand over jobs to families of 250 terror victims

. SRINAGAR: J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will distribute appointment letters to the family members of 250 terror victims on Tuesday, the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. These families, from across north, central, and south Kashmir , are those whose relatives were killed by various terrorist outfits operating in the valley, officials said. Since the rise of terrorism in the valley three decades ago, they have endured tremendous hardships, losing family members in violent acts carried out by outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Many of the victims were civilians and primary breadwinners for their families. 'Their death not only caused deep emotional trauma, but also pushed their families to economic hardship and social isolation,' officials said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store