J&K terror attack: Security agencies release sketches of three men

Two locals, three to four Pakistani terrorists behind deadly Pahalgam terror attack

Srinagar: Two local militants and three to four Pakistani terrorists have reportedly been identified as part of the group behind Tuesday’s deadly attack on tourists in Baisaran Valley, near Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

The brutal targeted attack, one of the deadliest in Kashmir in recent years, left 27 civilians dead, most of them tourists.

Sources said the local militants have been identified as Adil Guri of Anantnag and Ahsan of Pulwama. Both reportedly crossed over to Pakistan in 2018 and recently infiltrated back into the Kashmir Valley, accompanied by three to four Pakistani terrorists.

The attackers were heavily armed and carried out the assault in a remote area of Baisaran Valley—a scenic but isolated location accessible only on foot or by pony. This inaccessibility, officials said, significantly delayed the response by security forces.

Eyewitnesses told police that the terrorists were dressed in camouflage uniforms and carried AK-series rifles. The Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday released sketches of three of the suspected Pakistani attackers, based on eyewitness accounts.

A senior police official confirmed that the terrorists had helmet-mounted cameras and appeared to have recorded the attack. “The use of body cameras suggests the footage may be intended for propaganda,” the official said.

The group is believed to have been led by a terrorist identified as Asif Fauji. Intelligence inputs indicate that the operation was planned by senior Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Saifullah Kasuri, also known as Khalid. Kasuri is a known associate of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed.

Some reports suggest that Fauji may have ties with the Pakistan Army, which may explain the name 'Fauji', meaning soldier.

The attack has raised concerns about the resurgence of foreign terrorists in Kashmir and the continued use of local recruits in terror operations.