Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday rejected Indian claims surrounding the reported killing of an alleged suspect in last year’s Pahalgam terrorist attack, describing the incident as what he called another “false-flag” operation by India.
The press conference followed reports in Indian media that an individual wanted in connection with the April 22 Pahalgam attack had been killed during an encounter in the Korag area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Addressing reporters, Lt Gen Chaudhry said the incident was a “so-called terrorist incident” that he alleged had been staged by India’s political and military establishment. He presented what he described as a five-point timeline of developments surrounding the reported encounter.
According to the ISPR chief, the sequence began on September 29, when India’s Chinar Corps posted on social media that, based on joint intelligence reports, the Indian Army, police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had launched an operation in the general area of Korag, Yousmarg.
He said another Chinar Corps post on September 20 reported that Indian forces had recovered the body of an alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba militant.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said Indian news agency ANI subsequently reported that the deceased had been identified as Mohammad Asif, whom it claimed had previously served in Pakistan’s Special Services Group (SSG). He added that India’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Press Information Bureau later repeated the claims.
The ISPR chief questioned the timeline and the Indian authorities’ account of the operation, referring sarcastically to the reported six-month duration of “Operation Sheruwali” and saying that Mohammad Asif had allegedly been “neutralised” after months of efforts.
Indian Claims
Indian media reports alleged that the deceased, identified as Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa, was affiliated with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba and had previously served in the Pakistan Army.
ANI reported that Asif was born on March 7, 1980, joined the Pakistan Army in 2000 and retired as a havildar. The agency further claimed that he joined the SSG in 2005, served with the 4 Commando “Yalgar” Battalion and was deployed in Balochistan from 2006.
ANI also alleged that he had participated in operations against Baloch insurgents and had served on the security detail of former president Pervez Musharraf.
The Indian news agency and Chinar Corps described Asif as a wanted suspect in the Pahalgam attack. The claims were attributed to unnamed sources and Indian authorities.
Pakistan has previously rejected Indian allegations linking it to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack and called for a neutral investigation. The claims regarding Asif’s alleged identity, military service and involvement in the attack have not been independently verified.
The Pahalgam attack was followed by a four-day military confrontation between Pakistan and India in May 2025. India launched strikes against targets in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir on May 7, while Pakistan subsequently reported shooting down several Indian aircraft. After further exchanges between the two sides, a ceasefire was reached on May 10 following US diplomatic intervention.
During the conflict, Indian media faced criticism over its coverage, including allegations of disseminating unverified information attributed to government sources. Pakistan has continued to reject what it describes as Indian efforts to link Islamabad to the Pahalgam attack.
The allegations and counter-allegations regarding the Pahalgam attack and the identity and activities of the deceased individual remain disputed and have not been independently verified.
