In a major breakthrough in the ongoing counterterrorism operations following the devastating terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, intelligence agencies have compiled a list of 14 active local terrorists operating across the region. These individuals, aged between 20 and 40 years, have been identified as critical players providing logistical support and ground-level facilitation to foreign terrorists infiltrating from Pakistan. Their affiliations span three major Pakistan-backed terror outfits—Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
According to highly placed sources, the list includes three members linked to Hizbul Mujahideen, eight associated with LeT, and three connected to JeM. The operatives have been named as Adil Rehman Dentoo, Asif Ahmed Sheikh, Ahsan Ahmed Sheikh, Haris Nazir, Aamir Nazir Wani, Yawar Ahmed Bhat, Asif Ahmed Khanday, Naseer Ahmed Wani, Shahid Ahmed Kutay, Aamir Ahmed Dar, Adnan Safi Dar, Zubair Ahmed Wani, Haroon Rashid Ganai, and Zakir Ahmed Ganie. Each of these individuals has a history of sustained involvement in militant activities, with their operations stretching across districts like Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag, and Kulgam.
Adil Rehman Dentoo, who joined LeT in 2021, currently commands the outfit’s operations in Sopore district. Asif Ahmed Sheikh, a JeM operative, oversees terrorist activities in Awantipora and has been a key figure since 2022. Pulwama continues to remain a hotbed of terror activities with Ahsan Ahmed Sheikh, Haris Nazir, and Aamir Nazir Wani playing active roles under the banners of LeT and JeM respectively. Similarly, Yawar Ahmed Bhat is another prominent JeM operative operating in Pulwama since 2024.
Shopian district also harbors significant militant presence, with Asif Ahmed Khanday, who joined Hizbul Mujahideen in 2015, still actively aiding Pakistani terrorists. Naseer Ahmed Wani and Shahid Ahmed Kutay, linked to LeT and its proxy The Resistance Front (TRF), have been instrumental in sustaining terror operations since 2019 and 2023 respectively. Aamir Ahmed Dar and Adnan Safi Dar have similarly been working in close coordination with LeT and TRF to facilitate movements and communication for foreign terrorists.
Zubair Ahmed Wani, categorized as an A+ militant, is the Chief Operational Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in Anantnag district and has been a recurring threat since 2018, often orchestrating attacks on security forces. Another name on the radar, Haroon Rashid Ganai, trained in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 2018, recently resurfaced in South Kashmir and remains under close surveillance. Zakir Ahmed Ganie, a senior LeT operative from Kulgam, continues to be involved in targeted killings and attacks on security personnel.
The identification of these local operatives comes against the backdrop of the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, where 26 tourists were mercilessly gunned down. The attack, carried out by a mix of Pakistani terrorists and local recruits, has reignited deep concerns about the growing nexus between cross-border terror outfits and indigenous supporters. Intelligence agencies are now working on establishing direct links between the 14 listed terrorists and the five attackers involved in the Pahalgam massacre.
The five terrorists implicated in the attack include three Pakistani nationals—Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha—along with two Valley-based operatives, Adil Guri and Ahsan. Authorities have already released sketches of the Pakistani terrorists and placed a bounty of Rs 20 lakh on each, reflecting the gravity of the situation and the urgency to bring them to justice.
Security operations have since intensified across South Kashmir, particularly in Pulwama and Anantnag, where many of these listed militants are believed to be operating. Coordinated efforts are underway involving the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army, and central agencies to dismantle the broader terror infrastructure facilitating these attacks. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also stepped in to assist in the forensic investigation of the attack, working alongside local forces to ensure a thorough probe.
The NIA team is expected to conduct a detailed assessment of the Pahalgam attack site, collect vital forensic evidence, and trace the communication and logistical pathways that enabled such a large-scale strike. With TRF, a proxy outfit of LeT, claiming responsibility for the massacre, the focus remains on choking the operational networks that allow these terror outfits to exploit local sympathizers.
This proactive identification of local terror operatives marks a significant move by Indian security agencies towards pre-emptively neutralizing threats and restoring a semblance of normalcy to the region. It also sends a strong signal that the country remains committed to crushing the terror ecosystem, irrespective of the origins or affiliations of those involved.
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