ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Diya TV) — Veteran Pakistani journalist Aftab Iqbal has stirred controversy with explosive claims that two of the four terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir were not only Pakistani nationals but trained commandos from the Pakistan Army.
In a now-viral video, Iqbal named Talha Ali and Aasim as active members of a Pakistan Army commando unit. “These weren’t just rogue actors,” Iqbal stated. “They were trained commandos, embedded in a system that allows such cross-border operations with full tactical support. One of them was a spy commando.”
According to Iqbal, both men were long associated with the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and had extensive military and intelligence backgrounds. He claimed their infiltration and activities were part of a “larger, more disturbing strategy intertwining terrorism, espionage, and military involvement.”
The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of 26 individuals, most of them tourists. Indian authorities identified the perpetrators as Talha (also known as Ali Bhai) and Asif Fauji, both Pakistani nationals, along with Adil Hussain Thoker and Ahsan, residents of Kashmir.
Adding to the growing list of names involved, Indian security officials later identified Hashim Musa, also known as Suleiman, a former Pakistani para commando, as a key figure behind the plot. Musa had reportedly been active in the region for nearly a year and was suspected of involvement in at least three previous attacks targeting security forces and non-locals, according to officials from India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Sources told The Hindu that Musa previously served in the Pakistan Army’s elite Para Forces before being dismissed. After his dismissal, he allegedly joined LeT and infiltrated India in September 2023. His primary area of operation was the Budgam district near Srinagar.
Indian intelligence officials described him as an expert in unconventional warfare and covert operations, trained in sophisticated weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, and survival tactics. Security analysts argue that the presence of highly trained operatives like Musa, Talha, and Aasim suggests a coordinated, state-supported effort rather than isolated incidents of extremism.
Indian authorities have long accused Islamabad of enabling such attacks by providing logistical and tactical support to militant groups across the border—allegations that the Pakistani government routinely denies.
Aftab Iqbal’s revelations have triggered strong reactions across South Asia. Indian media outlets have widely reported his statements, viewing them as confirmation of their long-standing claims about Pakistan’s military links to terror networks. Meanwhile, there has been no official comment from the Pakistani military or government on Iqbal’s allegations.
Known for his independent political commentary, Iqbal emphasized the urgent need for transparency and accountability within Pakistan’s institutions. “Until we confront the reality of institutional support for these groups, our nation will remain trapped in cycles of violence and diplomatic isolation,” he warned in his broadcast.
