New Delhi: The terrorist module responsible for the brutal massacre of 26 people in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley on April 22, 2025, has now been conclusively linked to an earlier deadly attack on infrastructure workers in the Z-Morh tunnel project near Sonamarg, according to officials closely monitoring the investigation.
This new revelation sheds light on the continuity of operations by a Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-backed cell, which authorities say has been active across multiple districts in Jammu and Kashmir over the past two years. The group has been targeting both civilian and strategic infrastructure, raising red flags across intelligence and security networks.
Pattern of Targeted Attacks Across Kashmir
The Pahalgam incident, one of the bloodiest terror attacks in recent history, resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and one local pony handler. The attackers specifically chose Baisaran Valley, a scenic meadow popular among tourists, after conducting reconnaissance over several days. Officials believe the location was picked due to its relatively low security presence, compared to other nearby attractions such as Aru Valley and Betaab Valley.
But what stunned investigators was the connection to a previous ambush in October 2024 at the Z-Morh tunnel project, where six labourers and a doctor were gunned down in a workers’ camp. The tunnel project, vital for all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Kargil, had been considered a high-value asset and was under heavy surveillance, yet the attack exposed serious gaps in ground-level security.
Now, intelligence sources confirm that key operatives involved in the Pahalgam assault were also part of the Z-Morh terror strike, marking a disturbing operational pattern. The same group of LeT-linked militants is suspected to have planned and executed both attacks, leveraging local over ground support and prior knowledge of geography.
How the Z-Morh Tunnel Was Targeted
The Z-Morh Tunnel attack took place in October 2024, when heavily armed militants stormed a construction camp located near the Sonamarg sector. The site was operated by a private construction company responsible for tunnel excavation and maintenance. Seven people were killed, including:
Dr. Shahnawaz from Budgam, Gurmeet Singh from Gurdaspur, Punjab, Mohammad Haneef, Faheem Nasir, a safety manager, Kaleem from Bihar, Anil Kumar Shukla, a mechanical engineer from Madhya Pradesh and Shashi Abrol, a designer from Jammu
The attackers torched two company vehicles before fleeing the scene, leaving behind an abandoned INSAS rifle—a crucial piece of evidence later matched to previous militant encounters. Officials recovered spent cartridges, indicating use of automatic weapons, and say the attack lasted less than five minutes.
The tunnel itself, stretching 6.5 kilometres with an additional 6.05 km of access roads, sits at an elevation of 8,562 feet. Given its strategic location connecting the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh, the attack was seen not just as a blow to civilian safety, but a direct threat to national infrastructure.
Pahalgam Massacre: Chilling Parallels and Pre-meditation
The attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, occurred just before peak tourist season. Witnesses told authorities that the attackers, armed and dressed in rugged local clothing, emerged from surrounding pine forests and started firing indiscriminately.
Shocking details emerged during the subsequent investigation. According to interrogated over ground workers, the terrorists arrived in the region by April 15 and spent nearly a week conducting surveillance on popular tourist spots. Four locations were shortlisted—Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, Baisaran, and a local amusement park.
On April 22, around 1:50 PM, the militants targeted a tourist group gathered in Baisaran. Eyewitnesses claimed that the attackers questioned some of the victims, demanding that they recite specific Islamic verses. Those who couldn’t respond correctly were shot point-blank.
Among the victims were two security personnel, one from the Navy and another affiliated with the Intelligence Bureau, who were off duty and visiting with family. The assault, though brief, was calculated and brutal, lasting under ten minutes but leaving behind a trail of devastation.
Lashkar’s Expanding Footprint and Key Operatives
Investigators point to a coordinated strategy employed by the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which continues to use proxy operatives and local support networks to maintain operational secrecy. Several names have now emerged across both attacks, forming what authorities describe as a “floating militant unit” that shifts from one district to another before executing pre-planned assaults.
One of the key figures, Junaid Ahmed Bhatt, was killed in an encounter in December 2024. He was among the original perpetrators of the Z-Morh tunnel strike and had evaded capture for over a year. Later, two other militants linked to the same cell were also eliminated during joint operations by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police.
A senior Lashkar operative identified as Hashim Musa, also known by his alias Suleman, has now been confirmed as the mastermind behind both the Pahalgam and Z-Morh attacks. Sources say Musa had infiltrated the Valley via the Rajouri sector and was involved in logistics planning, weapons delivery, and local recruitment.
Over Ground Network Provided Critical Support
Investigators say the role of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) has been central to the success of these attacks. These individuals, often locals with no prior criminal record, provide shelter, transportation, food, and real-time surveillance updates to active militants.
In both the Pahalgam and Z-Morh attacks, OGWs had allegedly facilitated logistical movement and helped in arms storage. Several arrests have been made in recent weeks, including two men from Anantnag and one from Ganderbal, all believed to have acted as couriers and scouts.
Security officials also revealed that these OGWs helped the attackers avoid detection by blending with local populations, often posing as trekking guides or porters.
Rising Concerns Over Targeting of Civilians
The deliberate targeting of unarmed civilians, including tourists and infrastructure workers, reflects a shift in terrorist strategy aimed at disrupting the region’s economic stability and creating fear among non-local visitors and labor forces.
Tourism, a vital component of Kashmir’s economy, has seen strong growth in recent years. By striking at tourist hotspots and key national infrastructure like the Z-Morh tunnel, the militants aim to project control while undermining economic recovery.
Security experts believe these attacks serve a dual purpose: generate high-profile media coverage while inciting communal and regional tensions.
Renewed Focus on Counter-Terror Measures
Following the Pahalgam attack, the Union Home Ministry has ordered a review of all tourist security deployments in Jammu and Kashmir. There has also been a surge in counter-infiltration operations near the LoC, particularly in districts with past Lashkar presence.
Special attention is being paid to construction sites, tourist lodges, and trekking routes, with intelligence-sharing mechanisms between central and local agencies being tightened. Authorities have also issued fresh advisories for both tourists and contractors operating in sensitive regions.
Meanwhile, security forces are continuing operations to dismantle Lashkar’s support network, which investigators believe remains active across Anantnag, Ganderbal, and Budgam.
The link between the Pahalgam massacre and the Z-Morh tunnel attack underlines a persistent threat from Pakistan-based Lashkar operatives, who continue to exploit local support and operational loopholes. While recent encounters have neutralized several militants, the recurrence of coordinated, high-casualty attacks signals the need for a recalibrated counterterrorism approach—one that addresses both direct threats and the ecosystem that sustains them.
