SRINAGAR: Adil Ahmad Dar was the suicide bomber in Pulwama attack. However, Intelligence agencies suspect top Jaish-e-Mohammad commander Abdul Rasheed Ghazi, an Afghan war veteran and 'IED specialist', to be the prime organizer of Thursday's attack. On the basis of Intelligence reports, a national media reported that the strike may have been in the works since December.

The Intelligence received information that there were plans an attack around February 9, the death anniversary of Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru. One of the flagged transcripts said 'bada hona chahiye, Hindustan rona chahiye (it should be big, India should cry).' After these messages, Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar is believed to have sent Ghazi to Kashmir, sources said. Ghazi infiltrated into Kashmir on December 9, traveling mostly on foot and public transport.

Ghazi planned the attack to avenge the killings of Jaish commanders Talha and Usman. The two were nephews of Azhar. Soon after Usman's killing, Jaish-e-Mohammad released a statement vowing revenge.

India is also investigating the role of Jaish’s Afzal Guru Squad in the attack.