PoK Funeral Unveils Pakistan’s Role in Pahalgam Attack

Swift Summary

• Tahir Habib, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant killed during Operation Mahadev by Indian security forces, was given an in-absentia funeral in Khai Gala, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
• habib was categorized as an ‘A’ wanted militant and linked to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
• The event turned tense when a local LeT commander, Rizwan Hanif, tried to attend despite the family’s objection. A confrontation occurred between Hanif and villagers.
• LeT operatives reportedly threatened mourners with weapons but faced public outrage.Villagers pushed back and forced Hanif to leave.
• Residents of Khai Gala are now planning a boycott against terror recruitment efforts in the region.
• This incident underscores growing public resistance against militant influence in PoK communities.

Indian Opinion analysis

The confrontation at Tahir Habib’s funeral reflects deepening societal shifts within Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Traditionally treated as safe havens for militancy by groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), regions such as Khai Gala might be experiencing an erosion of fear-driven acceptance of armed groups. The collective defiance by residents indicates frustration over decades of violence impacting their communities while signaling potential grassroots rejection of radicalization.

This progress follows heightened counter-insurgency measures on both sides post-Pahalgam massacre, suggesting India’s military actions have indirect social repercussions beyond borders.While isolated events like these may not reflect wholesale ideological change across pok yet, they suggest early cracks forming within communities aligned or coerced into supporting militancy. It is indeed worth observing whether this incident fuels broader civilian pushback against terror outfits operating freely in the region.

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