Pakistan has rejected Indian claims that a former Pakistani military serviceman, allegedly wanted in connection with the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack, was killed during an encounter in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Indian authorities and media identified the person as Havildar Muhammad Asif, also known as Hashim Moosa, and linked him to the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG). On October 1, 2026, DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry presented Hav Muhammad Asif a( Retd) before the media in Rawalpindi. Asif said he was alive and had been living in Pakistan since retiring from the army. Pakistan consequently described the episode as evidence of another attempt to associate Pakistan with terrorism.

Against this backdrop, Pakistan has long argued that major terrorist incidents in India and IIOJK have been used to defame Pakistan, divert public attention from domestic challenges, and reinforce political narratives surrounding Hindutva and Kashmir. Islamabad has cited incidents including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Pathankot and Uri attacks, the 2019 Pulwama attack and the 2025 Pahalgam attack. Indeed, these all incidents were “false flags”operations. The Pahalgam attack, dramatically intensified tensions between India and Pakistan. India blamed Pakistan-linked militants,........

© Pakistan Observer