In a disturbing development, Adil Ahmed Thoker, one of the main suspects behind the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, is believed to have traveled to Pakistan in 2018 on a student visa. He returned to India years later, not only radicalized but also linked to other terrorists, including the Pakistani national Hashim Musa, involved in the deadly attack. The attack, which killed 26 people, has raised serious concerns about the use of student visas for terror activities and the growing radicalization of youth across borders.
Adil Ahmed Thoker’s Radicalization and Training in Pakistan
Adil Ahmed Thoker, hailing from Gurre village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bijbehara, traveled to Pakistan in 2018. Intelligence sources suggest he was already showing signs of radicalization before leaving India. Once in Pakistan, Adil Ahmed Thoker’s whereabouts were untraceable for several months. During this time, it is believed he received paramilitary training and came under the influence of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a terrorist organization based in Pakistan. Adil Ahmed Thoker’s involvement with LeT further fueled his participation in planning the Pahalgam attack.
The Attack and Adil Ahmed Thoker’s Role
By late 2024, Adil Ahmed Thoker resurfaced in India, crossing the Line of Control (LoC) through the rugged terrain of the Poonch-Rajouri sector. Accompanied by a group of terrorists, including Hashim Musa, Adil Ahmed Thoker entered Jammu and Kashmir. Security forces tracked his movement, but he successfully avoided detection for weeks. Once in Anantnag, Adil Ahmed Thoker sheltered with fellow terrorists and began scouting locations for a major attack. His team eventually targeted tourists in the Baisaran area of Pahalgam, killing 25 tourists and one local. The attackers also targeted security personnel, with casualties from the Navy and Intelligence Bureau.
Adil Ahmed Thoker, Musa, and another suspect, Ali Bhai, are the prime suspects in the attack. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have offered a reward for any information leading to their capture. Meanwhile, explosions destroyed the houses of the suspects during search operations, revealing explosives likely intended for future attacks. Adil Ahmed Thoker’s journey from a student visa holder to a key player in a deadly terror plot highlights the dangerous exploitation of international travel for terrorist activities.
