Indian Army Kills Top Lashkar Commander Hashim Musa in Kashmir Encounter

The Indian Army has confirmed that Hashim Musa. The last surviving member of a four-member group of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists responsible for several sensational attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Was killed in an overnight encounter in the Khansahib area of central Kashmir's Budgam district on Wednesday.

According to officials, Musa, also known as Asif Fauji, was killed in a joint operation built on intelligence inputs in an area under the Khansahib police station. Security forces had been pursuing Musa for some time and had recently put in place a specific all-stakeholder plan for his neutralisation.

This comes after technical and human intelligence about his movement and presence.

Musa was linked to several terror attacks. This includes the Halan attack in August 2023. The Dehra Ki Gali attack in December 2023, and the Baisaran attack in April 2025.

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He was also implicated in the Kandi attack in May 2023. The Shahsitar attack in May 2024, the Shiv Khori attack in June 2024, and the Gagangir attack in October 2024. According to an official note from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Three other members of the group were killed by security forces over the years. Junaid Bhat was killed in December 2024, as part of Operation Dachigam. Suleiman was killed in July 2025, as part of Operation Mahadev.

Yasir was killed in September 2026, as part of Operation Asdhar.

Musa is believed to have infiltrated the valley in 2022. He gained prominence after his photos surfaced in the forensic analysis of the phone recovered in Operation Dachigam in July 2025.

According to officials, the group comprising Musa, Junaid, Yasir, and Suleman Shah carried out the Halan attack on August 4, 2023, in which four Army personnel were killed. The group also attacked Army vehicles in Poonch on December 21, 2023, resulting in the loss of five Army jawans.

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Experts say that Musa's involvement in several high-profile attacks highlights the group's continued threat to national security. The Indian Army's success in neutralising Musa marks a significant milestone in the fight against terrorism in Kashmir.

Analysts note that the group's tactics and strategies have evolved over time, with a focus on targeting security personnel and infrastructure. The Indian government's efforts to counter these tactics and prevent future attacks are ongoing.

The neutralisation of Musa is seen as a major blow to the Lashkar-e-Taiba network in Kashmir. However, experts warn that the group's presence remains a persistent threat to national security, and that continued vigilance and cooperation between security forces and local communities are essential to preventing future attacks.