Security forces on Saturday identified a Pakistani national, Yasir, affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), as the terrorist neutralized in the higher reaches of central Kashmir a day prior. Yasir, who had been active in Jammu and Kashmir for several years, was reportedly linked to multiple attacks across the region. The police announced the identification on the social media platform X, stating, “You can run but you can’t hide! The terrorist neutralised during Op Ashdar has been identified as Yasir, a Pakistani national of Lashkar-e-Toiba.” This operation, codenamed ‘Ashdar’, led to the elimination of the foreign terrorist.
Sources within the security establishment revealed to The Tribune that Yasir operated alongside another terrorist identified as Musa. This duo was part of a larger terrorist group responsible for a series of attacks in both the Jammu and Kashmir regions. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that Yasir and Musa were the only active members remaining from this particular group, which had been operating in the dense forests of central Kashmir, with connections extending to the Pir Panjal region of Jammu. Their operational area spanned challenging terrains, facilitating movement and evasion.
Further details indicate that Yasir was a key associate of senior LeT commander Sulaiman Shah. Shah, along with two other terrorists, was killed in a security operation in the forests on the outskirts of Srinagar in July 2025. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had subsequently informed the Lok Sabha that the three militants eliminated in that operation were involved in the devastating Pahalgam attack, which resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and one local resident. This connection highlights Yasir’s significant role within the LeT’s operational hierarchy and his involvement in high-profile terrorist activities.
Security sources also disclosed that Yasir, in conjunction with Sulaiman Shah, Musa, and Junaid Ahmed Bhat, was implicated in a string of attacks in the Jammu region. These incidents included the ambush at Dera Ki Gali in Poonch, where four soldiers lost their lives, and an attack on an Air Force convoy. Following these attacks, the group reportedly shifted its base from the Pir Panjal region to the Kashmir Valley. By 2024, the group had fragmented into two distinct factions, according to security intelligence.
According to the sources, Sulaiman Shah and Junaid Ahmed Bhat were involved in the Ganderbal tunnel attack in October 2024. Concurrently, Yasir and Musa were suspected of carrying out the Butapathri attack near Gulmarg in the same year, an incident that claimed the lives of two soldiers and two civilian porters. Junaid Ahmed Bhat was later killed in a security operation in the Harwan area on the outskirts of Srinagar in December 2024, marking a significant blow to the group.
Since the fragmentation and the subsequent elimination of key members, Yasir and Musa had been actively operating in the high-altitude forest areas of central Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region. Security officials believe that Yasir was in the process of crossing from the Poonch region into Kashmir on Friday when security forces intercepted and engaged him, leading to his elimination. The operation involved a coordinated effort by multiple security agencies to track and neutralize the terrorist.
In response to intelligence indicating the presence of terrorists in these high-altitude areas, additional forces, including personnel from the Army’s special forces, have been recently deployed. This increased security presence aims to enhance surveillance and response capabilities in the challenging mountainous terrain. Earlier last month, J&K Chief Nalin Prabhat had reviewed the functioning of temporary operating bases (TOBs) in the region, emphasizing the importance of robust security infrastructure and operational readiness. He was accompanied by senior police officers from the Kashmir zone during this review.
With the successful elimination of Yasir, security agencies have now intensified their focus on tracking down the remaining active militant, Musa. Officials indicated that a comprehensive cordon has been established in the area, and there is a strong suspicion that Musa was with Yasir. All efforts are reportedly underway to locate and neutralize him, signaling a continued commitment to dismantling terrorist networks operating in the region. The operation underscores the ongoing efforts by security forces to maintain peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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