India
oi-Swastika Sruti
In the latest development, Commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) from Pakistan died in an encounter with security forces in the Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, said officials.
Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Yasir, a Pakistani national previously linked to the Sulaiman Musa group, was killed by security forces during Operation Ashdar in the Yusmarg forest area of Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
This operation was carried out after receiving information by the security forces regarding the movement of terrorists in the forests near Ashdar Gali and Yusmarg. The deceased terrorist has been identified as Yasir, a Pakistani national associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, according to Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Who Was Lashkar Commander Yasir?
The sources informed that Yasir was associated with with the Sulaiman Musa group of Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, he reportedly separated from the group around a year ago and had been operating independently since then.
Security agencies had been tracking his activities and movements in the Yusmarg area of Budgam for some time. After leaving the group, Yasir is believed to have emerged as an important LeT operative in the region.
How Did Operation Ashdar Begin?
This military mission, which has been codenamed as “Operation Ashdar,” was initiated based on information that was available to the security forces about suspected terrorists’ movements in the region.
The joint military task force included special forces of the Indian Army, 53 Rashtriya Rifles, and Jammu & Kashmir Police, who were looking for suspected terrorists in the area.
Security forces had got information that the group from Pakherpora area of Pulwama district was moving towards Yusmarg in Budgam.
Terrorists Open Fire After Being Challenged
In the process of the raid, the soldiers are reported to have observed some suspicious movement and challenged the alleged terrorists. As per reports, the terrorists fired back in response to the challenge, thus starting an exchange of fire.
The terrorist was killed in the confrontation.
A gun was also seized during the encounter.
It has been found out that the killed terrorist was named Yasir, a citizen of Pakistan associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba group.
Security Agencies Probe Yasir’s Network
Following Yasir’s killing, security agencies are examining his wider network and his connections with other LeT operatives.
Investigators are also trying to determine how long he had been active in the area and whether he had been involved in recent terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The focus is expected to remain on identifying his associates, support network and possible links with other terrorist groups operating in the region.
Who Was Sulaiman Musa?
Yasir’s reported association with the Sulaiman Musa group has also brought attention to the slain Lashkar operative.
Sulaiman Musa, also known as Hashim Musa, was identified by Indian authorities as one of the alleged masterminds of the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
Months after the attack, Indian security forces killed Musa during an encounter in the Dachigam forest area of Srinagar.
His death had been seen as a major development in the investigation and counter-terrorism operations linked to the Pahalgam attack.
Another Recent Terror Operation in Budgam
The latest encounter follows another joint operation in Budgam in which a terrorist was killed. Security forces had received intelligence about the movement of suspected terrorists through the forest areas between Pulwama and Yusmarg.
The operation involved the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
