ABP Exclusive: Saifullah Kasuri Directed Top 5 Lashkar-Hizbul Commanders In Pahalgam Plot, Intel Sources Say

<p>As the investigation into the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu &amp; Kashmir deepens, its roots appear to trace back deep into Pakistan. Intel sources suspect that the attack was orchestrated by five senior terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen on the orders of Lashkar&rsquo;s Deputy Chief, Saifullah Kasuri. Intelligence agencies are currently probing these leads. The suspected names include: Lashkar&rsquo;s top commander in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Abu Musa; HuJI commander Idris Shaheen; Lashkar&rsquo;s Pakistan-occupied Kashmir-based recruitment commander Mohammad Nawaz; Hizbul&rsquo;s operational commander and United Jihad Council leader Abdul Raffa Rasool; and Lashkar&rsquo;s field commander Abdullah Khalid.</p>
<p>Sources suggest that the blueprint for the conspiracy was drawn up as early as February. One piece of evidence is embedded in a statement by Saifullah Kasuri dated February 2, in which he declared that Kashmir would become an Islamic nation by February 2026. Following this speech, Kasuri reportedly held a meeting with Abu Musa, Idris Shaheen, Mohammad Nawaz, Abdul Raffa Rasool, and Abdullah Khalid in the last week of February in Kasur district, Punjab. Intelligence sources suspect that it was during this meeting that Kasuri may have directed the five commanders to carry out a major attack in Kashmir.</p>
<p>Within a week of meeting Kasuri, these five commanders allegedly convened again in the Khambal area of Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during the first week of March. Sources suspect that this meeting was where the planning and framework for the Pahalgam attack were finalised. This theory is further supported by the fact that Saifullah Kasuri himself visited Mirpur on March 11, and ABP News has obtained exclusive images and videos of this visit. During this public gathering, Kasuri embraced Lashkar commander Abu Musa on stage and was seen patting him on the back. Idris Shaheen was also present at the event.</p>
<p>According to sources, after the rally, Kasuri held another private meeting with the five commanders. Sources strongly believe this meeting focused on discussing a major attack in Kashmir, specifically targeting people from other Indian states. Following this, in the last week of March, another meeting of the same five terrorists took place again in Mirpur. Sources say that, as per leads, it was in this meeting in Khambal that they finalised Pahalgam as the target location and set April 22 as the date for the attack.</p>
<p>Then, just four days before the attack, on April 18, all five suspected commanders gathered in Rawalkot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. According to sources, while the gathering was publicly announced as a condolence meeting for terrorist Abdul Haleem, who was killed by the Indian Army on March 17, the actual purpose may have been to give final shape to the Pahalgam attack plan. Speeches delivered during the event clearly reflected their intentions to carry out terrorist activities in Kashmir in the coming days.</p>
<h3><strong>Khalid Vowed To Form New Wave Of &lsquo;Mujahideen&rsquo; Like 1995&ndash;2001 Era, Declared Plans To &lsquo;Wipe Out&rsquo; Population</strong></h3>
<p>ABP News has exclusive video footage from April 18 which is also being analysed by security agencies, where Lashkar commander Abdullah Khalid can be seen threatening retaliation for the Indian Army&rsquo;s March 17 action. In his speech, Khalid vowed to form a new wave of mujahideen on the border, reminiscent of the 1995&ndash;2001 era. He further declared plans to send thousands of mujahideen into India to &ldquo;wipe out&rdquo; the Indian population.</p>
<p>Also present at this gathering was HuJI commander Idris Shaheen, who, during his speech, not only issued threats against India but declared that Muslims have only two enemies: Jews and Hindus. It is noteworthy that HuJI terrorists were involved in the 2003 assassination of Gujarat&rsquo;s then Home Minister Haren Pandya. Referring to the 2002 Akshardham temple attack, Shaheen boasted that the mujahideen had taught Modi a lesson and vowed more such &ldquo;lessons&rdquo; in Kashmir, calling for the continuation of jihad.</p>
<p>Hizbul Mujahideen commander and United Jihad Council leader Abdul Raffa Rasool also addressed the April 18 gathering. The United Jihad Council, created by the Pakistani Army in the 1990s to spread terror in Kashmir, includes groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Harkat-ul-Ansar, with Syed Salahuddin as its chief. In his speech, Rasool openly called for jihad against Hindus in Kashmir and urged people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to take up arms and enter India. He also claimed that Hindus coming to or residing in Kashmir act as informants for Delhi.</p>
<p>Lashkar commander Mohammad Nawaz, whose son and brother were both killed in encounters with the Indian Army, also delivered a forceful speech. He threatened that it was time to revive the same terror he had once unleashed in Kashmir and said he was ready again, urging others to join him.</p>
<p>The final speech at the Rawalkot gathering was delivered by Lashkar commander Abu Musa. He accused India of removing Articles 370 and 35A to bring about demographic change and reduce Muslims to a minority. He declared that the mujahideen had never allowed Hindus to settle in Kashmir and never would. He warned that if Hindus tried to settle in Kashmir, they would face gunfire and be beheaded. Also present at this event was Jamaat-e-Islami&rsquo;s deputy chief Zahid Rafiq, whose group is a banned terrorist organisation in India.</p>
<p>ABP News possesses complete video footage of this April 18 terrorist gathering. According to intelligence sources, there is strong suspicion that the final instructions to infiltrate Pahalgam were given on this day. Rawalkot has long served as a launchpad for terrorists infiltrating India, and sources report that there are over 50 training camps of Hizbul and Jaish operating in the area.</p>
<p>Moreover, agencies suspect that Saifullah Kasuri and the five top terrorist commanders were acting under the guidance and planning of the Pakistani Army and ISI. Saifullah Kasuri is known to have close ties with the Pakistani military. ABP News has obtained a photo of Kasuri at an event with Pakistani Rangers officer Zahid Zareen, where he is seen holding a bouquet and mingling freely.</p>
<p>All evidence points to a broader conspiracy. Saifullah, Abu Musa, Idris Shaheen, Mohammad Nawaz, Abdul Raffa Rasool, and Abdullah Khalid may just be the visible faces, while the actual links to Pakistan&rsquo;s ISI and military&mdash;who have a history of orchestrating terrorist attacks in India&mdash;are becoming increasingly clear. At present, intelligence agencies are in the early stages of investigating this theory in connection with the Pahalgam attack. The coming days may reveal further evidence and additional key players in the plot.</p>