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New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Old equipment may have caused commando's death, says army chief
LENGGONG: The army believes the use of equipment past its operational lifespan was a contributing factor in the death of a commando during an exercise in Kuantan recently. Army chief General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan said that early findings suggest the diving equipment used may have exceeded its lifespan. "We are reviewing the case. Based on preliminary findings, it appears there may be issues related to the equipment used, which is rather outdated. "We are conducting a thorough review and audit to determine whether the incident resulted from human error or equipment failure. "We haven't concluded the investigation yet, but God willing, we will provide the findings in due time," he said. Hafizuddeain said this during a press conference after the closing of Exercise Keris Strike Series 30/2025 involving the militaries of the United States, Australian and Malaysia at Felda Lawin Selatan here today. On July 3, Corporal Mohd Haswansir Julnasir, 30, of the Special Service Group (GGK) was reported missing while conducting a diving exercise off Kuantan using a closed-circuit breathing apparatus (CCBA) at 12.15pm. Hafizuddeain said all military equipment had lifespans and maintenance schedules. "Every piece of equipment or weaponry we use has a defined service life and corresponding policy. "Some are rated for 10 years, others for 20. During that period, scheduled maintenance must be carried out. "What we're looking at now is whether those maintenance procedures were followed according to schedule," he added. He said one of the critical pieces of equipment under scrutiny is the CCBA. Asked how long the full investigation would take, Hafizuddeain said it would depend on the complexity of the issues involved.
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First Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Pahalgam attack mastermind Hashim Musa reportedly killed in Operation Mahadev. Who was he?
Main: Indian forces have reportedly killed three terrorists, including Hashim Musa aka Suleman Shah, the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack. Security forces had launched Operation Mahadev, a combined effort of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), after a device authorities had been tracking since the Pahalgam terror attack made a suspicious call. Here's what we know about Musa and how it all went down read more Jammu and Kashmir Police had released sketches of Pahalgam attackers. X/@AnantnagPolice Indian forces have reportedly killed Hashim Musa, the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack. Musa, aka Suleman Shah, is said to be one of three terrorists killed in a gunbattle on Monday in Operation Mahadev. The encounter is said to have occurred near Srinagar. While the identities of the terrorist are yet to be confirmed, sources said they could be Musa, Yasir aka Harris and Abu Hamza. But who was Musa? How did security forces reportedly kill him? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Who was Musa? Musa was previously a para-commando of the Pakistan Army's Special Service Group (SSG). He is believed to be in his late 20s. He joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) after being dismissed from his army post. The Pakistan Army is said to have recruited Musa to bolster the LeT's Kashmir operations. Musa is said to have been a top LeT commander. He is rumoured to have been proficient in unconventional warfare and covert operations. He is also believed to be able to use complex weapons, excel in hand-to-hand combat, as well as have navigation and survival skills. He was sent to target civilians and security forces. 'It is possible that he was loaned by Pakistan special forces, like Special Service Group (SSG), to LeT,' an officer was quoted as saying by Times of India. His use of advanced weapons, including M4 carbines, is another indicator of his special training. The officer said Musa's background shows that the ISI was involved in the Pahalgam terror attack. Indian security officers inspect the site in Pahalgam where militants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists at Pahalgam. AP He is said to have been involved in several other terror attacks in Kashmir including the incidents in Gagangir and Baramulla. The first incident, which occurred in October 2024, left seven dead including a doctor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The second claimed the lives of two army personnel and two army porters. Musa is said to have lost weight in an attempt to change his appearance and stay ahead of the authorities. He is believed to have entered India sometime in the past two years. 'We believe he [Musa] entered from the Samba and Kathua side and then moved towards Kishtwar. There is no local support for these terrorists so they mostly live in tents in the dense forests and caves and keep moving, which is also why Musa hasn't been arrested earlier,' a source earlier told ThePrint. Musa is said to have operated mainly in Kashmir's Budgam district, which is near Srinagar. He is said to have been coordinating with other Pakistan-backed terror outfits in the Valley. His background is believed to have been revealed by one of the LeT's Over Ground Workers in Kashmir. Indian authorities had arrested more than a dozen of these OGWs in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These individuals played a critical link in organising the supplies that the Pakistani terrorists needed. They are also have said to have scouted the site of the terror attack. How did security forces reportedly kill Musa? Now, let's take a look at Operation Mahadev. It was a combined effort from the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). It was named after Mahadev Peak in Srinagar. The firefight occurred in the upper reaches of Dachigam Forest, which is in Srinagar's Harwan area. The army is said to have been keeping a watchful eye on that area. (File) Indian Army personnel during a counterterror operation following a terrorist attack on an army convoy, in Kathua district, on July 9, 2024. PTI File The army in early July received a communication it deemed suspicious. The security forces are said to have been trying to tracking the movements of the terrorists. The 24 Rashtriya Rifles, 4 Para, J&K Police, and CRPF had been sweeping Dachegam for the past two weeks. Then, two days ago, a device security forces had been tracking since the Pahalgam terror attack made a suspicious call. The LeT often uses Chinese-made equipment to send encrypted messages. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The device is believed to be a Huawei satellite phone. This development set off alarm bells in the security establishment. Security forces quickly narrowed the location of the device to the Dachigam forests, where it suspected the terrorists were hiding. A full-scale operation was quickly launched on Monday in Harwan's Mulnar area. Information from the nomads also helped security forces track down the terrorists. A joint team of 24 Rashtriya Rifles and 4 PARA found the terrorists. Sources said the terrorists were caught off guard as they were napping inside the tent – a common tactic they use to keep their energy up. The elite unit opened fire immediately. Musa and the others were gunned down during the operation. Visuals of the hideout of the terrorists deep in the forests shows a large green sheet between trees. Clothes, blankets, plastic bags, food, and plates can scattered underneath this. 'There is a high probability that the militants killed in this encounter may have been involved in the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that took place on April 22, 2025, in the Baisaran Valley area of Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians', a high-level source told India Today. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The operation to find other possible terrorists continues. 'Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation continues," Chinar Corps wrote on X. At least 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed and several others were injured after terrorists opened fire on a popular meadow near Pahalgam in Kashmir on April 22. The terror attack was the deadliest incident in the region since the 2019 Pulwama strike. With inputs from agencies
NDTV
05-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Terrorists Involved In Pahalgam Attack Had Military Training In Pakistan: Sources
Quick Take Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. The Pahalgam attack on April 22 involved terrorists trained by Pakistan's Special Service Group. One key figure, Hashim Musa, a Lashkar-e-Taiba member, has engaged in multiple attacks. A manhunt is underway, with a bounty offered for his capture. New Delhi: The terrorists responsible for the deadly attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley on April 22 had received elite military training in Pakistan, sources said. This training from the Pakistani Special Service Group led them to aid their terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir effectively. Officials uncovered the information during the interrogation of some terrorists who are already in jail. Hashim Musa, one of the three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack, has previously served as a para-commando in Pakistan's Special Service Group. He later joined Lashkar-e-Taiba and has been part of multiple terror attacks since. According to sources, Musa is learnt to have entered India in 2023. Since then, he has been a part of at least six terror attacks across Jammu and Kashmir, including the October 2024 attack in Ganderbal district that left seven people dead, and the attack in Baramullah that left four security personnel dead. Security agencies believe Musa is hiding somewhere in the forests of south Kashmir, and an all-out operation has been launched to track him down. Jammu and Kashmir police have announced a bounty of Rs 20 lakh for any information about the terrorist and assured that the informer's identity will be kept secret. All the terrorists, including Musa, who have received special training in Pakistan, are a part of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, or Hizbul Mujahideen. Pahalgam terror attack Twenty-six people, including one Nepali national, were killed and many others were injured as multiple terrorists descended on Baisaran Valley, known as "Mini Switzerland" - a tourist hotspot with rolling hills and verdant orchards - and opened fire. According to eyewitnesses, as the gunshots rang out, there was panic among the tourists who ran for cover. However, there was no place for them to hide in the wide, open space. Security forces have launched search operations to track down the terrorists involved in the attack. While India has taken strict action against Pakistan by suspending the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty indefinitely and sending all Pakistani nationals back. According to intelligence security agency sources, the motive behind the attack was to cause maximum destruction in Kashmir. The attack has been one of the biggest terror attacks after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pakistan Scales Up Lashkar Chief's Security, Fears Covert Op Against Hafiz Saeed By India
Pakistan's ISI and government have significantly increased security for Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed. Fearing an Indian covert operation targeting him, Pakistan has deployed additional personnel, including commandos from the Special Service Group, to protect the LeT chief. Saeed's residence in Mohalla Johar has been converted into a temporary sub-jail, strategically placed in a densely populated area with a mosque, madarasa, and civilian homes. These measures highlight Pakistan's deep concern over potential Indian action, reflecting the heightened tensions and fears of an impending 'Osama-like' operation against Saeed.
NDTV
30-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Hashim Moosa, Pahalgam Killer On The Run, Is Former Pak Commando: Sources
Quick Take Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Security agencies have identified three terrorists linked to the conspiracy behind Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 dead. One of them, Hashim Moosa, is hiding in Kashmir. A Rs 20 lakh bounty has been announced for information about him. New Delhi: Security agencies have identified three terrorists involved in plotting the Pahalgam terror attack in which 25 tourists and a Kashmiri pony ride operator were shot dead in cold blood. Two of them -- Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafeez Saeed and his deputy Saifullah Kasuri -- are in Pakistan, and the third, Hashim Moosa, is believed to be hiding in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources in the security establishment have said Hashim Moosa is hiding somewhere in the forests of south Kashmir and an all-out operation has been launched to track him down. The terrorist, security agencies fear, will try to flee to Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir police have announced a bounty of Rs 20 lakh for any information about Hashim Musa and assured that the informer's identity will be kept secret. According to sources, the objective is to arrest Hashim Moosa alive, as that would establish Pakistan's role in the heinous terror attack. Hashim Musa, it is learnt, has served as a para-commando in Pakistan's Special Service Group. He later joined Lashkar-e-Taiba and has been part of multiple terror attacks since. He is learnt to have entered India in 2023. In October last year, Hashim Moosa was involved in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district that left seven people dead. He was involved in an attack in Baramullah that left four security personnel dead. According to security agencies, Hashim Moosa has been part of at least six terror attacks in the Valley. The investigation into the Pahalgam tragedy has found that Hashim Moosa was among the key perpetrators of the chilling terror attack that targeted innocents. Others involved have been identified as Adil Thoker and Asif Sheikh. Police have announced a bounty of Rs 20 lakh for each of them. The Pahalgam tragedy has brought relations between India and Pakistan to rock bottom. New Delhi has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and visa services for Pakistan nationals. Islamabad has responded by threatening that it can suspend all bilateral pacts, including the Simla Agreement that validates the Line of Control.
