Srinagar, September 30: A top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, identified as Asif Musa alias Asif Fauji or Moosa, was killed during an overnight operation in the Yousmarg forests of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials said.
According to official sources, Musa had been active in Jammu and Kashmir for nearly three years after reportedly infiltrating into the region in September 2023.
Sources said he had established hideouts and operated for an extended period across the Pir Panjal range. He was reportedly active in the dense forest areas of Poonch before later shifting towards the central Kashmir areas of Budgam and Yousmarg.
Security forces had launched an extensive operation to track him down, as he was allegedly involved in several attacks targeting security personnel, the sources said.
His associate, identified as Yasir alias Abu Talha, was killed by security forces on September 5 during Operation Ashdar in the Budgam forests, officials added.
The Army’s Chinar Corps said in a post on X that a joint search operation was launched by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF in the Korag area of Yousmarg based on specific intelligence inputs.
According to the Army, troops detected suspicious movement and challenged the individuals. The suspected terrorists then opened fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire in which one terrorist was neutralised.
The operation continued overnight, culminating in the killing of Musa, according to officials.
