LeT ‘commander’ Hashim Moosa killed in Budgam operation: Army
The Army on Wednesday said a Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) ‘commander’, Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa, who had been active across the Pir Panjal Valley and south Kashmir for several years, was killed during an ongoing counter-terrorism operation in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Joint operation launched on specific intelligence
According to the Army, a joint search operation by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was launched in the general area of Korag, Yousmarg, in Budgam on the night of Tuesday, September 29, 2026, following “specific intelligence input.”
“Vigilant troops observed suspicious activity, and upon being challenged, terrorists opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire during which one terrorist [was] neutralised,” the Army said.
Body recovered with ‘war like stores’
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, the Army said that during the search in Palmaidan, troops recovered the body of the slain militant along with “war like stores.” The individual was identified as Mohammad Asif, also known as Hashim Moosa, whom officials described as a Pakistan-based LeT operative active in central and south Kashmir as well as the Pir Panjal belt.
“During the search early morning in Palmaidan, the body of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, identified as Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa recovered along with war like stores,” the Army said.
Breakthrough against LeT network, say officials
Security officials described the killing as a significant breakthrough, noting that Moosa had been active for several years and was involved in coordinating multiple attacks in the region. He was said to be part of a broader LeT network operating across the Kashmir Valley.
Identity initially unclear; combing continues
The Army said the operation remained in progress, with combing operations continuing in and around the encounter site to rule out the presence of any additional militants. It added that the identity and affiliation of the slain militant could not be established immediately during the initial phase of the operation on Tuesday night, before he was subsequently identified as Moosa on Wednesday morning.
What’s next
Security forces continued searches in the Korag–Yousmarg sector and adjoining forested tracts through Wednesday to ensure the area was fully sanitised. Further details about materials recovered from the site were not immediately disclosed.
Published: September 30, 2026
