‘Muhammad Asif alive in Pakistan': Army debunks India's claim about ex-SSG soldier

Asif is a retired Pakistani Army soldier whom India had falsely claimed to have killed in a staged encounter in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Speaking to a press conference, the ISPR DG said the incident had begun on the night of September 29 when the Indian Corps posted on social media that a joint search operation had been launched in the general area of Korag, Yousmarg, during which one terrorist had been neutralised.

Nearly seven hours later, the Indian Army issued an update claiming that the body of a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist identified as Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa had been recovered along with war-like stores in the general area of Palmaidan.

Afterwards, ANI, an Indian news agency published a detailed account claiming Mohammad Asif was born on March 7, 1980, had joined the Pakistan Army in 2000 under service number PA-3106947, retired with the rank of Havildar, was inducted into the Special Services Group in 2005, served with 4 Commando Yalgar Battalion, was posted to Balochistan from 2006 onward, participated in approximately 10 operations against Baloch insurgents, was credited with 13 kills and had served on the VVIP security team of former President Pervez Musharraf between 2006 and 2009.

"You might be recalling Uri, Pahalgam and Pulwama — a very interesting story is being cooked, and the story is now complete," the ISPR DG said, adding that there was a lot of evidence available.

He then produced Havildar Muhammad Asif — alive — before the assembled media, comprehensively demolishing India's fabricated account and exposing another in a series of staged incidents designed to manufacture a Pakistani terrorist narrative in IIOJK.

Chaudhry noted that India had claimed that Muhammad Asif was involved in attacks in different areas. "India had claimed that Asif was a retired Special Services Group (SSG) Havildar," he added.

Speaking alongside the military’s spokesperson during the press conference, Asif said that he is a resident of Tehsil Pindigheb, Attock District.

“Yesterday evening, I received phone calls from friends informing me that Indian media and social media platforms were reporting that the Indian Army had killed me in an encounter in Kashmir. They asked me where I was. I told them that I was alive and well, sitting at home, Alhamdulillah.”

Soon after, he said he started receiving calls from unknown Indian numbers inquiring about his personal details and asking whether he was related to the person mentioned in the news.

“I repeatedly blocked those numbers. Shortly afterwards, I saw news broadcasts showing my photograph and personal military record, claiming that I had been martyred in Kashmir,” the ex-SSG commando further said.

“I was utterly astonished. I was sitting at home, yet they were claiming to have killed me in Kashmir,” he added.

Asif said he immediately informed his former unit leadership to clarify that he was safe and at home, so that no false impressions or accusations could be created. “They advised me to block the calls and informed me that the ISPR would contact me to present the truth.”

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