Rawalpindi, October 1, 2026: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Thursday challenged India’s claim that a man allegedly linked to the Pakistani military and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had been killed in an operation in Indian-administered Kashmir, presenting the individual alive before the media.
The Indian Army had said that Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa, whom it described as a Pakistan-based LeT militant, was killed during an operation in the Korag-Yousmarg area of Budgam. Indian media subsequently reported that he was a former Pakistan Army soldier and SSG commando.
Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the DG ISPR described the incident as what he called a “so-called terrorist incident” and alleged that it was part of a false-flag narrative being promoted by India.
Lt Gen Chaudhry presented a timeline of events, saying the episode began on September 29 when the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps announced a joint search operation in the Korag-Yousmarg area.
According to the Indian account, security forces encountered suspected militants during the operation and killed one individual. The following day, the Indian Army said the body of a Pakistan-based LeT militant identified as Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa had been recovered along with war-like stores.
Indian news agency ANI subsequently reported that the deceased was a former Pakistan Army soldier who had joined the Special Services Group (SSG) and retired as a Havildar. Indian media reports also linked him to several attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, including the 2025 Pahalgam attack.
Lt Gen Chaudhry then called Muhammad Asif to join him at the press conference.
‘Here, alive and healthy’
Speaking to the media, Asif said he had learned from friends that reports were circulating on social media claiming that he had been killed by the Indian Army in Kashmir.
“I responded that I was here, alive and healthy,” he said.
Asif said he had also received calls from Indian numbers seeking his personal information, identity and whereabouts.
He said he became aware through ANI reports that Indian media had used his personal information to identify him as the person allegedly killed in Kashmir.
“I was surprised by whatever was happening as I was sitting at my home,” he said.
Asif said he subsequently informed his unit about the reports and was advised to block the numbers calling from India before ISPR officials contacted him.
He said he joined the Pakistan Army in 2000 and was inducted into the SSG in 2005. He served with the SSG for 18 years before retiring in 2023.
Asif said he subsequently worked for a private security company for three years and had been living with his family in Rawalpindi for the past three to four months.
He rejected the allegations against him and said he was “alive and present” before the media.
DG ISPR questions Indian narrative
Lt Gen Chaudhry said the sequence of Indian military, government and media statements raised questions about the identity and background attributed to the individual reported as killed.
He also referred to statements attributed to India’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Press Information Bureau, which described the operation as part of a longer campaign against militants.
The DG ISPR also displayed reports from several Indian media outlets that had carried the claim, including News18, The Statesman, India Today, Hindustan Times, ABP Live and The Indian Express.
He alleged that the incident was being used to reinforce a narrative against Pakistan and accused India of attempting to divert attention from what he described as its own record on terrorism.
Lt Gen Chaudhry further alleged that such incidents were intended to portray Pakistan as responsible for militant activity in the region.
