Pahalgam Attack News: Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Role in Baisaran Valley Terror Attack Sparks International Tensions

A terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley, near Pahalgam, has tragically resulted in the deaths of 26 people. This deadly attack has put a long-standing terrorist group operating in Jammu and Kashmir into the spotlight. It is one of the deadliest assaults since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019. In response, the Indian government has taken strong diplomatic and security measures, targeting Pakistan, which is accused of supporting and sheltering the handlers and backers of this terrorist group.

The Terror Group Behind the Attack

The attack was carried out by a brutal terror group linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) organization, which includes mostly foreign terrorists, with help from local militants and overground workers in the Kashmir Valley. This group operates under the command of Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Sources reveal that this terror group has been active in the Kashmir Valley for quite some time. Security agencies believe it has been involved in several high-profile attacks across the region, including deadly strikes in Sonamarg, Boota Pathri, and Ganderbal. In October 2024, a terror attack in Boota Pathri led to the deaths of four people, including two Indian Army soldiers. Later that month, six labourers and a doctor were killed in a brutal attack in Sonamarg. Hashim Musa, one of the prime suspects in the Pahalgam massacre, is also linked to the Sonamarg attack.

Key Members of the Group Targeted

After the Sonamarg massacre, a key member of the group, Junaid Ahmed Bhatt, who was an A+ category Lashkar terrorist from Kulgam, was neutralized by security forces in an encounter in Dachigam in December 2024. Although some members of the group managed to escape into nearby forests, security forces are working tirelessly to track them down. These terrorists often retreat into forest hideouts after an attack, waiting for fresh orders from their handlers in Pakistan.

Indian intelligence agencies believe that the group operates under the direct control of Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed and his deputy, Saifullah, who are both believed to be in Pakistan. The terrorists receive not just ideological support, but also tactical and logistical help from Pakistan’s military and intelligence agency, the ISI.

The Attack in Baisaran Valley

The Pahalgam attack involved terrorists striking at three different locations in the Baisaran Valley. According to police, five people were killed in one location, two more were shot in an open field, and others were targeted near a fencing structure around the valley. Some survivors managed to escape by jumping over the fence. Survivors reported that the attackers briefly interacted with them before opening fire.

Search for Suspects and Ongoing Investigation

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have released sketches of three suspects believed to be involved in the attack. Two of them are Pakistani nationals: Hashim Musa (alias Suleman) and Ali Bhai (alias Talha). The third suspect, Abdul Hussain Thokar, is from Anantnag in Kashmir. The police have announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for credible information leading to their capture.

In addition to the investigation, security forces uncovered a hideout used by the terror group in the forests nearby.

India’s Diplomatic and Security Response

Following the attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) held an emergency meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The committee, which included Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and other senior officials, decided on several strong retaliatory measures.

Effective May 1, both India and Pakistan will reduce their diplomatic staff from 55 to 30. All military, naval, and air defence personnel at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared persona non grata, and they must leave India within a week. Indian diplomats in Islamabad will also be withdrawn.

In addition, India has suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals, revoking all existing visas. Pakistani citizens in India under this scheme must leave within 48 hours. The Attari-Wagah land border crossing has also been closed indefinitely, and Pakistanis currently in India have until May 1 to return.

India has also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, which governs the sharing of water resources between the two countries.

Public Protests and Reactions

Massive protests broke out outside the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, where security forces were deployed to control the growing crowds. Demonstrations were held across Jammu and Kashmir, and several other Indian states, condemning the terrorist attack and calling for justice.