As the whole of India reels from the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, authorities have identified a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, Saifullah Sajid Jutt, as the mastermind
Jutt has suspected ties to Pakistan’s ISI and military, and his involvement has sparked a renewed wave of outrage.
Who is LeT Commander Saifullah Sajid Jutt aka Saifullah Kasuri, mastermind of Pahalgam, Kashmir terror attack, biography, age and photo
Khalid Saifullah, the commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (#LeT) has been seriously injured after an assassination attempt by unidentified assailants in the #Kasur district of #Punjab, #Pakistan.
He has immediately been taken to unidentified hospital.
I have met… pic.twitter.com/BiGCnA2X76
— Noor Dahri – نور ڈاہری 🇬🇧 (@dahrinoor2) August 14, 2023
Clear Pakistan's hand behind #PahalgamTerrorAttack.
– 26/11 plotter Hafiz Saeed's Aide Saifullah Sajid Jutt: The Mastermind
– Lashkar offshoot carries out horror
– Known to be close to ISI & Pak army.@deepduttajourno & @anchoramitaw with further details. pic.twitter.com/e65sYodeMt
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) April 23, 2025
The recent attack seemingly left at least 28 people dead, leaving the entire nation in shock and mourning.
Saifullah Sajid Jutt identified as mastermind behind Pahalgam terror attack
A top-level terrorist named Saifullah Sajid Jutt, also known as Saifullah Kasuri, has emerged as the main mastermind behind the brutal Pahalgam terror attack. According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), they have long considered Jutt a “hardcore terrorist.” Reports indicate that he operates from Islamabad, Pakistan, and reportedly enjoys strong ties with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, as well as the Pakistan Army. Moreover, according to intelligence reports, he often conceals his terror-related operations under the guise of charitable activities.
Pahalgam Terror attack
On Tuesday afternoon, April 16, 2025, several armed terrorists seemingly opened fire unprovoked on a group of around 40 tourists. The incident took place in the Baisaran area near Pahalgam, a scenic tourist hotspot. The ambush reportedly killed about 28 people, including both Indian nationals and international foreigners. Several of the survivors described it as a scene of chaos and horror as gunfire tore through the peaceful vacation spot. Following the tragic incident, the Lashkar-affiliated group The Resistance Front (TRF) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
#BreakingNews | Sajid Jat alias Saifullah emerges as the key figure behind recent attacks in Kashmir, linked to Pakistan-backed terrorism.
Exclusive Input: @manojkumargupta
News18's @Ieshan_W shares details @poonam_burde | #PahalgamTerroristAttack #PahalgamTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/yT8YefhAhn
— News18 (@CNNnews18) April 23, 2025
Government response
In response to the attacks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a swift return to India, cutting short his visit to Saudi Arabia. He then convened a high-level emergency meeting, stating:
I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice. Their evil agenda will never succeed.”
Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah responded to the attack by rushing to Srinagar and immediately holding a series of strategic discussions with several top officials. On the other hand, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also returned early from her official tour in the US and Peru.
Saifullah Sajid Jutt bio
Saifullah Sajid Jutt is a top-level terrorist who hails from Shangamanga village in Pakistan’s Punjab province. He is known by his alias Saifullah Kasuri and is a senior LeT operative and one of the most wanted terrorists. According to various reports, Jutt has played an instrumental role in planning and executing cross-border attacks. He has seemingly carried out these attacks with support from Pakistan’s intelligence and military circles.
Kasuri (45) uses charity and religious fronts to mask his involvement in terror-related activities and is known to maintain close ties with handlers from Pakistan’s ISI and key figures in the Pakistan Army.
Saifullah Sajid Jutt, also referred to as Saifullah Kasuri, is a senior commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a United Nations-designated terrorist organisation and based in Islamabad, Jutt is considered a close aide of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed. Also known by the alias Khalid, he heads LeT’s operations from its Peshawar headquarters and has held senior roles in affiliated organisations, including Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), which has also been sanctioned by both the U.S. Department of State and the United Nations as an alias of LeT.
In 2017, he was introduced as the president of the Milli Muslim League (MML), the political arm of JuD.
ALSO READ: Ice Bucket Challenge 2025 rules, reason, meaning, origin and how to donate