Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 21: A year after the brutal Pahalgam terror attack, Indian intelligence agencies have intensified efforts to track down Sajid Jatt — also known as Saifullah Sajid and Habibullah Tabassum — the Pakistan‑based mastermind accused of orchestrating the carnage.
Investigators say Jatt has been living under multiple aliases and disguises, frequently shifting between safe houses in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to evade detection. Sources allege that several of these hideouts are linked to Pakistan’s Inter‑Services Intelligence (ISI).
The April 22, 2025 assault in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley saw four to five heavily armed terrorists target civilians based on their religion, killing 26 people. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which filed a voluminous charge sheet in the case, has named Jatt as the chief conspirator and a “most wanted” operative tied to Lashkar‑e‑Taiba and its proxy outfit, The Resistance Front (TRF).
According to the NIA, Jatt — whose real identity is Habibullah Tabassum — directed the attack remotely, maintaining direct communication with the gunmen. He is described as highly elusive, adept at altering his appearance, and known to use aliases such as “Salim Langda,” a moniker derived from a limp sustained in an earlier encounter with security forces.
Intelligence inputs suggest Tabassum remains under threat from unidentified assailants targeting high‑value terror figures inside Pakistan, forcing him into an even more covert lifestyle. Officials believe he continues to coordinate closely with senior Lashkar operatives and Pakistani handlers, and has long overseen militant operations in Kashmir.
The investigation underscores his role as a key commander linked to several major attacks in the region, cementing his position as one of the most dangerous fugitives on India’s radar. |
