Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Hashim Musa killed in Badgam encounter

Indian security forces, including the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF, killed Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Mohammad Asif, also known as Hashim Musa, during a joint operation in the Yusmarg area of Badgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Musa was reportedly a former commando of the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) and had previously served on the security detail of former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. His death marks the end of a significant group of Lashkar commanders active in the region since 2022, following the deaths of other leaders such as Junaid Bhat, Suleman, and Yasir.

Following the encounter, Pakistan held a press conference presenting an individual claimed to be Musa to suggest he was still alive. However, defense experts and independent agencies used facial recognition technology to debunk the claim, noting that the individual’s facial structure, nose, ears, and eyes did not match the actual terrorist.