New revelations about the Pahalgam attack have surfaced, shedding light on the planning and motivations behind it. The attack was orchestrated by Lashkar-e-Taiba's Deputy Chief, Saifullah Kasuri, who held multiple meetings with key commanders in Pakistan, including Abu Musa and Mohammad Nawaz. These commanders plotted the attack as part of a larger strategy to escalate militancy in Kashmir. They aimed to provoke violence and destabilize the region, drawing inspiration from past attacks such as the 2004 Akshardham Temple assault. On February 22, Kasuri met with senior Pakistani military officials, including Zahid Zarin, a high-ranking commander in the Pakistani Rangers. These meetings highlight the strong ties between Lashkar and Pakistani military agencies, with Kasuri receiving active support and encouragement for his militant activities. In their inflammatory speeches, the commanders expressed their intent to restore the violent atmosphere of the 1990s in Kashmir and provoke more attacks within India. They also sought to recruit more youth, particularly from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, into their training camps, aiming to intensify violence in the region. This revelation underscores Pakistan’s continuing role in supporting terrorism, with Lashkar commanders receiving both logistical and moral backing from Pakistani authorities.
