PoK funeral for Pahalgam attacker Tahir Habib exposes Pakistan's role in April terror strike

Time of India

15 hours ago

The funeral in absentia of Tahir Habib, one of the terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev, has triggered tensions in his native village of Khai Gala in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Habib's family barred Lashkar-e-Taiba members from attending, but a confrontation broke out when a local LeT commander tried to force his way in. This incident has highlighted a growing shift among residents in PoK, many of whom now appear unwilling to tolerate the presence or influence of armed militant groups in their communities.
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Fallout signals shift in public mood
Tahir Habib: The man known as 'Afghani'
The Janaza-Ghaib , or funeral in absentia, of Tahir Habib was held recently in Khai Gala , a village in Rawalkote, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Tahir was one of three terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev , conducted last week by Indian security forces in Srinagar, as reported by TOI's Raj Shekhar Jha. He had been a category 'A' wanted militant linked to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 civilians were killed.The ceremony, which drew elderly villagers and relatives, was quiet at first. But that calm didn't last.According to locals and visuals shared on Telegram, the funeral took a sharp turn when Rizwan Hanif, a local Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, arrived uninvited. Tahir's family had made it clear they did not want any LeT members at the funeral. Hanif tried to defy that request, and a confrontation broke out.A source present at the scene told TOI, "Lashkar operatives threatened mourners with a gun, sparking outrage among villagers. The residents of Khai Gala, who have long been wary of radicalisation, are now planning a public boycott to oppose terror recruitment."Villagers reportedly pushed back, forcing Hanif to leave. That rare open defiance sent a clear message.This public rejection of LeT presence, during the funeral of one of their own, suggests something deeper is changing in the region.As told to TOI, a source following the developments added, "A Lashkar commander facing public backlash and being forced to flee is a testament to the changing dynamics in the region."The backlash comes amid the wider consequences of Operation Sindoor, India's counter-operation launched after the Pahalgam massacre . While military in nature, its impact now appears to be resonating socially, even across the border.Tahir Habib's path into militancy followed a familiar arc seen in the region. He began with involvement in the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) and the Student Liberation Front (SLF), both ideological stepping stones for radicalised youth. Later, he joined the Pakistan Army before becoming an operative for the Lashkar-e-Taiba.In intelligence records, he was often referred to by the alias 'Afghani', a nod to his roots.Tahir belonged to the Sadozai Pathan community , a group that migrated from Afghanistan in the 18th century and played a prominent role in the Poonch Rebellion. His community's history is steeped in resistance, though now the nature of that resistance seems to be evolving.The fallout from this funeral may seem like a small village dispute. But it cuts to the core of a larger shift underway in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. For years, militant groups have operated with impunity. Now, even in strongholds like Khai Gala, they are beginning to face public resistance.The villagers' message was simple. Fear alone no longer guarantees silence.