Former Pakistan Army para commando, Hashim Musa also known as Suleman or Ali Bhai, is said to have been the key perpetrator and mastermind behind the deadly Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, resulting in the deaths of 26 people, while at least 40 others mostly tourists – sustained injuries
Investigations have revealed that Hashim Musa is a former para commando of the Pakistan Army’s elite Special Service Group (SSG) special trained in unconventional warfare, covert operations, strategic combat, advanced survival techniques and navigation skills. SSG commandos are also proficient in using sophisticated weapons and close-quarters combat.
It may be mentioned that even Gen Pervez Musharraf served with the Special Service Group (SSG) of the Pakistan Army. He joined the elite Special Service Group (SSG) shortly after the 1965 Indo-Pak war and served in the SSG from 1966 to 1972. During the 1971 war with India, Musharraf was company commander of a commando battalion in West Pakistan. The major battles in West Pakistan occurred in Kashmir, Punjab, and Sindh, while the liberation of East Pakistan, led to the creation of Bangladesh.
Almost 16 years later, Musharraf was posted as brigade commander of a newly raised SSG brigade near the Siachen Glacier in 1987 because of his experience in mountain warfare. In September 1987, he commanded an assault at Bilafond La but was unsuccessful. This was one of the reasons why Musharraf hated India and tried to create mischief in Kargil to force India to give up areas which it occupied as part of Operation Meghdoot in the mid-80s in Siachen glacier – the highest battlefield in the world.
Recent reports indicate that Hashim Musa a former para commando also from the Pakistan Army’s SSG Special Forces joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as a paid mercenary/ terrorist. There are however two conflicting versions – one that he was dismissed from the Pakistan Army, hence he joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) – a banned terrorist organization. Though the exact reasons for his dismissal from the Pakistan Army have not been publicly disclosed, another version suggests that the Special Service Group (SSG) deliberately sent Musa on deputation to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to streamline and strengthen its operations in Kashmir.
Hashim Musa was specially sent by LeT leadership to Jammu and Kashmir to target non-local civilians and security personnel. There is however no link between Hashim Musa and General Muhammad Musa Khan, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army from 1958 to 1966 and joined politics after retirement from the army.
Also Read: Jaish-e-Mohammed – a terrorist organisation or family business?
As per intelligence reports Hashim Musa infiltrated into Indian Territory in September 2023 and initially set up his base in Budgam district of Kashmir, near Srinagar.
Hashim Musa was allegedly involved in at least three major attacks in the Kashmir namely:
- October 2024 Gagangir – Ganderbal attack in which six non-local civilians and a doctor were killed.
- October 2024 Buta Pathri, Baramulla attack in which two Indian Army personnel and two porters were killed.
- Hashim Musa was allegedly the key conspirator and one of the main perpetrators behind the Pahalgam attack along with Pakistani national Ali Bhai and Adil Thoker a local resident.
Hashim Musa and his associates are now reportedly hiding in the forests of South Kashmir. Security agencies have launched an operation to track him down, and a bounty of ₹20 lakh has been announced for information leading to his arrest. The objective is to arrest him alive to establish Pakistan’s role in the attack. Sketches of their detailed physical description based on eyewitness accounts have been released. But the basic problem is that no one knows how Hashim Musa actually looks like.
Pakistani Army – Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) – Jihadi nexus
Hashim Musa’s specialized training and involvement in the Pahalgam attack is clear cut evidence of Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence’s (ISI) support for terrorism in J&K.
The Pakistani Army and ISI are like two sides of the same coin. The Pakistan army which virtually runs the country, holds significant influence over the ISI, which is a powerful and multifaceted organization that plays a vital role in safeguarding Pakistan’s national security and pursuing its interests both domestically and internationally. Its influence extends across political, security, and diplomatic domains, making it a key instrument of the Pakistani state.
Key aspects of the Pakistan Army and ISI relationship:
ISI conceived in 1948 by Major General Walter Cawthorn, then Deputy Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Army is an Extension of the Military. The relationship between the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is such that the Pakistan Army exerts significant control over the ISI. ·
- Historically, the Pakistan Army and the ISI have shared strategic objectives · ISI is heavily staffed by serving officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force on deputation
- Director-General (DG) ISI including Lt Gen Asim Malik is a serving Lieutenant General
- Some experts describe the ISI as a “military agency” that implements the policies framed by the army. Some analysts even suggest that the ISI’s plans are essentially the plans of the Pakistan Army.
- DG, ISI is appointed by the Prime Minister in consultation with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
- The ISI executes the Army’s strategic goals, through covert operations and support for militant groups.
- The DG, ISI also heads the National Intelligence Coordination Committee (NICC), and is involved in Pakistan’s domestic politics, including surveillance of politicians, manipulating elections, and supporting certain political factions
The ISI has a long history of proxy warfare and supporting militant groups, particularly those operating in Kashmir and Afghanistan.
Importance of ISI in Pakistan’s internal and external affairs
As the country’s premier intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) plays a crucial role in both Pakistan’s internal and external affairs. Its importance stems from its broad mandate to safeguard national security and promote Pakistan’s interests both domestically and internationally.
Internal Affairs:
The ISI’s “Internal Wing” is responsible for gathering intelligence within Pakistan, countering espionage, and addressing domestic threats to national security. This includes monitoring anti-state activities, sectarian and ethno-nationalist groups, and terrorist organizations operating within the country.
- The ISI has historically played a significant role in maintaining internal stability, sometimes through controversial means. This has included surveillance of politicians, influencing media narratives, and intervening in political processes to protect the interests of the military and the state.
- A critical function of the ISI is its role in counter-terrorism efforts within Pakistan. The agency gathers intelligence on terrorist groups, their networks, and their activities, playing a key role in disrupting attacks and dismantling terrorist infrastructure.
The ISI has been accused of meddling in Pakistan’s domestic politics, including forming political alliances, undermining opposing parties, and ensuring the rise of regimes favourable to the military establishment. This has led to the perception of the ISI as a powerful “state within a state.”
External Affairs:
The “External Wing” of the ISI focuses on gathering intelligence outside Pakistan’s borders, countering foreign intelligence operations, and conducting espionage to protect and advance Pakistan’s foreign policy objectives.
- Historically, the ISI has played a significant role in shaping regional dynamics.
- During the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s, the ISI, with support from the US and other countries, backed the Mujahideen against the Soviet forces. Later, the ISI’s support for the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan has been a major aspect of its foreign policy.
- The ISI is involved in gathering intelligence related to Pakistan’s relationships with other nations, identifying threats and opportunities, and advising the government on foreign policy matters. However, its alleged support for militant groups has often strained Pakistan’s relations with its allies.
- The ISI’s “Covert Action Division” is reportedly involved in carrying out clandestine operations outside Pakistan to achieve strategic objectives. Details of these operations are highly secretive.
- At times, the ISI has worked in coordination with intelligence agencies of other countries, such as during the Soviet-Afghan War when it collaborated closely with the CIA and MI6. However, these relationships have often been complex and subject to shifts in geopolitical interests. ISI’s role in promoting terrorism in Kashmir
- The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has a long and well-documented history of playing a significant role in promoting terrorism in Kashmir. A significant focus of the ISI’s attention is focused on Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab where it has been supporting and facilitating militant groups.
- The ISI has been accused by India and the international community of actively supporting, arming, and providing training to various militant groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir. These groups have included Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen, and others.
- The ISI is a major source of funding for these militant organizations. Reports suggest that substantial amounts of money are channelled through various means to sustain their activities, including donations, illegal transfers, and front companies. · The ISI has been implicated in providing strategic direction, planning attacks, and coordinating the activities of different militant groups in Kashmir. The aim has often been to further Pakistan’s strategic objectives in the region.
- The ISI has been accused of facilitating the infiltration of militants, including foreign fighters from Pakistan and Afghanistan, across the Line of Control (LoC) into Indian-administered Kashmir.
- When facing international pressure, the ISI has been known to create and support proxy organizations, such as The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be an offshoot of LeT, to claim responsibility for attacks and obscure direct links to Pakistan-based groups. The recent Pahalgam attack, where TRF initially claimed responsibility, is an example of this tactic.
- The involvement of former Pakistani military personnel, like Hashim Musa (the key perpetrator of the 2025 Pahalgam attack who was a former para commando), who later join militant groups like LeT, further underscores the ISI’s deep connections and influence. It’s even suspected that such individuals might be strategically placed within these groups by the ISI.
Multiple sources, including investigative reports, government statements, and international analyses, point towards the ISI’s continued involvement in sponsoring and supporting terrorist activities in Kashmir. While Pakistan often denies direct involvement, the evidence increasingly suggests a strong link between the ISI and the perpetuation of terrorism in the region.
