Pahalgam terror attack: Sketches of suspected TRF terrorists behind killing of 26 tourists released
Pahalgam Terror Attack: Security agencies have released sketches of three key suspects involved in the brutal terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam. The identified attackers — Asif Fuji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha — are believed to be members of The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of the banned Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The deadly ambush, which has shaken the region, was carried out by a group of five to six heavily armed militants. Dressed in a mix of camouflage attire and traditional kurta-pajamas, the attackers descended on the tourist hotspot from the surrounding pine forests and indiscriminately opened fire using AK-47 rifles.
Intelligence sources have revealed that the assault team included Pakistani nationals who had infiltrated the Valley just days before the incident. Saifullah Kasuri, also known by the alias Khalid, a top commander of LeT, has been named as the mastermind behind the orchestrated attack. Digital surveillance has traced the attackers’ communication footprints to terror safe houses located in Muzaffarabad and Karachi, further confirming cross-border involvement.
According to preliminary forensic findings and eyewitness testimonies, the terrorists used military-grade weapons and advanced communication devices, suggesting a well-supported and externally funded operation. Sources also reported that the group came fully prepared, carrying stockpiles of dry fruits, medicines, and tactical gear to sustain themselves in the mountainous terrain.
Witnesses recounted that at least two of the attackers communicated in Pashto, pointing to their Pakistani origin, while the remaining two were identified as local operatives from Bijbhera and Tral, named Adil and Asif. Their familiarity with the terrain, combined with inputs that the attackers had conducted reconnaissance of the area with the aid of local contacts, has added a new layer of concern for intelligence agencies.
In response to the attack, security forces have launched an extensive anti-terror operation across Pahalgam and its adjoining regions. Helicopters have been deployed for aerial surveillance, while ground forces continue combing operations through dense forest cover to track down the militants who managed to flee immediately after the assault.
The scale, planning, and coordination involved have pointed toward a high-level of training and direction from across the border — a stark contrast to previous local-level disruptions in the Valley.
- With inputs from agencies
