Musa, a 42‑year‑old former Havildar of Pakistan’s Special Services Group, spent 23 years in the 4th Commando Yalghar Battalion before retiring on 31 March 2023.
After retirement, he allegedly crossed into Jammu and Kashmir and rose to chief commander of Lashkar‑e‑Taiba’s operations there, orchestrating attacks such as the 21 December 2023 Dera Ki Gali strike and the 4 May 2024 Poonch IAF convoy ambush.
Indian security forces engaged Musa in a Budgam encounter last night, killing him and eliminating a key LeT operative.
Musa’s death removes a commander whose tactical experience from counter‑insurgency in Balochistan, Kurram, Waziristan and UN peacekeeping in Sudan had bolstered the LeT’s operational capabilities.
Security agencies will continue sweeping the area for additional terrorists and war‑like material, while the Indian government will review the operation’s intelligence lead.