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Thursday, May 01, 2025

Pahalgam Attack Terrorists: Escape Route and Current Whereabouts

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After the Pahalgam attack, where did the terrorists go? How did they escape? Who were they?

Escape Route and Current Whereabouts

Following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, in Baisaran Valley, Jammu and Kashmir, the terrorists fled the scene by exploiting the dense pine forests surrounding the area. Key details about their escape include:

Immediate Escape: After the attack, the terrorists jumped over a wall on the left side of Baisaran Park and fled into the forested upper reaches of the Pir Panjal range. Their escape was facilitated by the rugged terrain and dense forest cover, which made immediate pursuit challenging.
Trekking Route: Sources indicate the attackers trekked approximately 20–22 hours through difficult terrain from the Kokernag forests to reach Baisaran Valley for the attack, suggesting they used a similar arduous route to escape. This implies familiarity with the geography, likely aided by prior reconnaissance and local support.
Security Forces’ Pursuit: Indian security forces, including the Army, Rashtriya Rifles, and Jammu and Kashmir Police, launched a massive manhunt. The terrorists were tracked “at least four times” in locations such as Hapat Nar village (Anantnag), Kulgam forests, Tral ridge, and Kokernag, with one exchange of fire reported in Kulgam. However, they evaded capture by leveraging dense terrain and warnings from local residents. Indian Army helicopters and joint cordon-and-search operations were deployed to hunt them down, but as of the latest reports, the terrorists remain at large, suspected to be moving around Kokernag.
Current Status: The terrorists are believed to be hiding in the forested upper reaches of Anantnag or Kokernag, with security forces intensifying searches using technical evidence and inputs from local tribal communities. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is actively investigating, videographing the forest area and assumed exit routes.

Method of Escape

The terrorists’ escape was meticulously planned, indicating prior preparation:

Reconnaissance and Timing: The attackers conducted detailed reconnaissance of Baisaran Valley days before the attack (as early as April 15), assessing security response times. They calculated that the nearest Rashtriya Rifles unit would take 40–45 minutes to reach the closest road and an additional 30–35 minutes to trek to Baisaran, giving them a window to escape.
Blocking Entry and Exit: The attack was executed by four terrorists, with two positioned at the entry gate, one at the exit gate, and a possible fourth providing support from the forest. This setup ensured tourists were trapped, allowing the attackers to maximize casualties and flee before security forces arrived.
Use of Technology: The terrorists likely used encrypted mobile applications to communicate with Pakistani handlers, aiding coordination and possibly receiving real-time updates during their escape. They also snatched two mobile phones—one from a local and one from a tourist—potentially to disrupt tracking or gather intelligence.
Local Support: Investigations revealed that 15 local overground workers (OGWs) facilitated the attack, providing logistics, arranging arms, and possibly guiding the terrorists through the terrain. Five prime OGWs were identified, with three detained, and their electronic communications confirmed their role in aiding the escape.

Identity of the Terrorists

The Jammu and Kashmir Police and security agencies have identified four terrorists involved in the attack, three of whom are named with a bounty of Rs 20 lakh each (total Rs 60 lakh) for information leading to their capture or elimination. They are confirmed members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based militant group, with possible links to The Resistance Front (TRF), an LeT offshoot. The identified terrorists are:

Hashim Musa alias Suleiman (Pakistani):
- A highly trained operative, active in Jammu and Kashmir for at least a year.
- Suspected involvement in multiple prior attacks, including the Z-morh tunnel attack (October 20, 2024, killing seven), the Boot Pathari attack (October 24, 2024, killing five), and attacks in Kulgam (August 2023) and Poonch (May 2024).
- Entered India approximately 18 months ago through the Samba-Kathua region by cutting through border fencing.
- Identified via a photograph recovered from the phone of slain LeT terrorist Junaid Ahmed Bhat, killed in December 2024.
- Known for precision firing and jungle survival skills, possibly linked to other Pakistan-backed groups.
Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai (Pakistani):
- Another Pakistani national, part of the same infiltration group as Musa.
- Entered India around the same time (18 months ago) via the Samba-Kathua region.
- Believed to have been involved in coordinated attacks with Musa, using codenames like “Moosa,” “Yunus,” or “Asif” to mask identities during the operation.
- Likely used high-tech equipment, including helmet-mounted body cams, similar to tactics seen in Hamas attacks.
Adil Hussain Thoker (Local, Anantnag resident):
- A local Kashmiri from Bijbehara, Anantnag, who served as the mastermind and guide for the Pakistani terrorists.
- Initially joined Hizbul Mujahideen in 2018 after being radicalized, then legally traveled to Pakistan via the Wagah border on a student visa in 2018. There, he received battle-hardened training at an LeT terror camp.
- Returned to Jammu and Kashmir in 2024 with the Pakistani terrorists, acting as their local facilitator.
- His house in Anantnag was demolished by security forces on April 24, 2025, after explosives inside detonated during a search.
Asif Sheikh alias Ahsan (Local, Pulwama resident):
- A local Kashmiri from Tral, Pulwama, identified as the fourth terrorist.
- His house in Awantipora was also demolished on April 24, 2025, during a search when explosives detonated.
- Limited details are available about his prior activities, but he is believed to have aided the Pakistani terrorists with logistics and local knowledge.

Additional Notes

Discrepancies in Names: Some reports mention “Asif Fauji” (Pakistani) or “Ahsan” as separate individuals, but most sources confirm Asif Sheikh as the local fourth terrorist. The codenames “Moosa,” “Yunus,” and “Asif” were used to obscure identities during the attack.
TRF’s Role: The Resistance Front initially claimed responsibility, citing opposition to Indian policies allowing non-Kashmiri settlement, but later retracted the claim, deepening suspicions of Pakistani involvement via LeT.
Masterminds: Intelligence agencies identified Saifullah Kasuri alias Khalid, a top LeT commander, and two Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)-based operatives as the masterminds behind the attack.
Investigation: The NIA has taken over, focusing on local OGWs, call records of banned groups like Hurriyat Conference and Jamaat-e-Islami, and forensic evidence (e.g., AK-47 and M4 rifle cartridges). A key witness, a local photographer, recorded critical footage from a tree, aiding the investigation.

Summary

The four terrorists—Hashim Musa, Ali Bhai, Adil Hussain Thoker, and Asif Sheikh—executed a planned attack with local support, fleeing into the Pir Panjal range via dense forests after trekking from Kokernag. They remain at large, likely in Anantnag or Kokernag, with security forces closing in using technical and local intelligence. Their identities tie them to Lashkar-e-Taiba, with Thoker and Sheikh providing critical local support after training in Pakistan. The escape leveraged pre-planned routes, encrypted communication, and local OGWs, making their capture a complex challenge.

Critical Note: While the sources provide a detailed picture, some information (e.g., exact current location or full OGW network) remains inconclusive due to ongoing investigations. The narrative of Pakistani involvement is heavily emphasized by Indian authorities, but Pakistan’s denials and TRF’s retraction suggest potential gaps in attributing ultimate responsibility. Always consider the possibility of incomplete or biased reporting in conflict zones.