Pakistan Army presents retired soldier alive to refute Indian reports

The Pakistan Army's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) presented retired SSG Havildar Mohammad Asif alive to journalists to refute Indian reports claiming he was killed in Kashmir. Indian media and authorities had identified a militant killed during a September 29–30 operation in the Korag–Yousmarg area as Mohammad Asif, also known as Hashim Moosa or Asif Fauji, alleging he was a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant and former Pakistani commando.

During a press briefing, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry characterized the Indian claims as a ‘false-flag operation’ staged by the Indian political and military establishment. Asif, who served in the Special Services Group from 2005 until his retirement in 2023, stated he was at his home in the Attock district when he learned of his reported death through social media. He rejected all allegations linking him to militant activities and noted that he had received calls from Indian numbers inquiring about his identity.