Jammu and Kashmir Police has released sketches of three terrorists allegedly involved in the dastardly Pahalgam attack that left 26 innocents dead. According to officials, the images released on Wednesday were sketched based on eyewitness accounts gathered from the Baisaran meadow area, where the attack occurred.
Police release sketches of suspects
The suspects have been identified as Pakistanis, named Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah and Abu Talha. They went by the aliases Moosa, Yunus, and Asif, respectively.
Terrorist Hashim Musa a.k.a Suleiman
All three are said to have been involved in previous terror incidents in the Poonch region.
Terrorist Adil Hussain Thoker
According to reports, the attack occurred when suspected militants from The Resistance Front — a shadow group of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — opened fire on a group of tourists visiting the Baisaran meadow, a popular tourist spot in Pahalgam.
Terrorist Ali bhai a.k.a Talha bhai
A bounty of Rs 20 lakh on each
J&K Police have announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for information that helps neutralise the terrorists responsible for the brutal attack.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the Anantnag police announced a handsome reward for any credible tip-off that will help neutralise the terrorists involved in this heinous act.
— Anantnag Police( اننت ناگ پولیس) (@AnantnagPolice) April 24, 2025
Officials also assured that the identity of anyone providing information will be kept strictly confidential. This comes amid intensified efforts to track down the assailants in one of the deadliest attacks in recent times.
LeT commander Saifullah Kasuri: the mastermind?
Intelligence sources have pointed to Saifullah Khalid, alias Saifullah Kasuri, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander believed to be operating from Gujranwala in Pakistan, as the mastermind behind the attack.
A report in The New Indian Express cited intelligence officials who claimed the operation was planned by Kasuri and two Pakistan-occupied Kashmir-based operatives.
Kasuri, a long-time Lashkar operative, has reportedly criticised Islamabad for its scaled-back support for militancy in Kashmir, especially after India revoked Article 370 in 2019. He has publicly condemned Pakistan’s shift in strategic focus, blaming the decision on internal security challenges in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Manhunt intensifies
Security forces have launched a massive search operation to locate and apprehend the attackers. The region remains on high alert, with police urging the public to share any leads that could help the investigation.
