NEW DELHI, September 30, 2026 : The killing of senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Mohd Asif, alias ‘Musa’, in an encounter in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir has dealt a “serious blow” to the Pakistan-based terror outfit’s network in the Union Territory, the Union Home Ministry said on Wednesday.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Army and other central security agencies had been tracking Musa for a considerable period. Following technical and human intelligence inputs indicating his movement and presence in the area, security forces prepared a specific operational plan to locate and neutralise him.
Musa, also known as Asif Fauji, was killed on Tuesday during an intelligence-led joint operation conducted by security forces in Gurwatkalan, under the jurisdiction of Khansahib police station in Budgam district, the ministry said.
In its statement, the MHA described Musa’s neutralisation as a significant setback to the LeT network operating in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The neutralisation of Musa by Indian security forces is a serious blow to LeT ecosystem in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” the ministry said.
The Home Ministry further stated that Musa’s killing marks the neutralisation of all four senior LeT commanders who had been operating in Jammu and Kashmir since 2022.
The ministry linked the group to several attacks in the region over the past few years. These include the Halan attack in August 2023, DKG in December 2023, Kandi in May 2023, Shahsitar in May 2024, Shiv Khori in June 2024, Gagangir and Bootapathri in October 2024, and Baisaran in April 2025, according to the MHA statement.
The operation comes amid continued security efforts against militant networks operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The agencies’ intelligence-led approach, involving technical and human intelligence inputs, was instrumental in identifying Musa’s movements and planning the operation, according to the ministry.
Musa’s death, as described by the MHA, represents another significant development in security operations targeting the LeT’s senior leadership and operational network in Jammu and Kashmir.
