Indian Army troops eliminated Lashkar‑e‑Taiba operative Hashim Moosa in the early hours of Wednesday, Budgam district, after a firefight triggered by intelligence‑led Operation KORAG.
The encounter took place in the Palmaidan area, where soldiers reported spotting suspicious movement that led to a gun battle; Moosa was neutralised and his body recovered along with arms and explosives used in the 2025 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists.
The Army’s Chinar Corps posted on X that the operation is still in progress and that further searches are underway, underscoring the persistence of security agencies in clearing the region.
Moosa, a former para‑commando of Pakistan’s Special Service Group, had been listed in a National Investigation Agency chargesheet as a key conspirator in the Pahalgam terror incident, and the reward of ₹20 lakh was offered for information on him and other LeT operatives.
The recovered weapons, identical to those used in the attack, will be examined for forensic evidence and likely filed as part of the broader counter‑terrorism case against the banned organisation.
Local residents in Budgam reported seeing increased patrols after the operation, expressing relief that a threat has been neutralised amid ongoing security concerns in the valley.