A picture and sketches of the alleged terrorists responsible for the attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists and injured numerous more have been made public by security services. Abu Talha, Suleman Shah, and Asif Fuji have been identified as the three terrorists.
In one of the bloodiest terrorist attacks to hit Kashmir in recent memory, the assailants, who are thought to be members of The Resistance Front, a branch of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), opened fire on visitors at the well-known Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam. From the thick pine forest that encircles the valley, at least five or six terrorists wearing camouflage clothing and kurta-pyjamas arrived at the Baisaran meadow and started shooting with AK-47s.
According to intelligence reports, the group included militants from Pakistan who had infiltrated the Valley in the days prior to the attack. The massacre’s mastermind has been identified by intelligence services as Saifullah Kasuri, also known as Khalid, a senior LeT commander. In order to identify the terrorists who used the woodland cover as an excuse to escape, security forces have launched a large anti-terror operation and sent out helicopters.
The terrorists employed military-grade weapons and sophisticated communication systems, which suggests outside logistical backing, according to a preliminary forensic analysis and victim accounts. The investigation also discovered that the terrorists recorded the entire event using body cams and cameras attached on their helmets. The assailants arrived well-prepared, with dry fruits and medications on hand. Sources said the terrorists also did a recce of Pahalgam with the help of locals.
Two of the terrorists, Adil and Asif, were locals, according to witnesses, but two of them spoke Pashto, indicating that they were of Pakistani descent. Bijbhera and Tral are home to the local terrorists.
The attack’s preparation and accuracy further suggest that skilled handlers—rather than amateurs from the area—were involved. Intel sources claim that the terrorists’ digital footprints were linked to safe houses in Karachi and Muzaffarabad, bolstering the allegation of a cross-border terror connection.
