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News18
01-08-2025
- Politics
- News18
News18 Evening Digest: MEA Reiterates Strong Strategic Partnership With US, ECI Rejects Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Fraud' Charge & Other Stories
Last Updated: We are also covering: Former JDS MP Prajwal Revanna Convicted In Farmhouse Rape Case and Yuzvendra Chahal On Divorce T-Shirt 'Be Your Own Sugar Daddy': 'I Wanted To Give A Message' In today's evening digest, News18 brings you the latest updates on MEA reiterating strong strategic partnership with US, ECI rejects Rahul Gandhi's 'vote fraud' charge and other top stories. When Habib Tahir, alias Chotoo, was killed by Indian forces in Harwan, Srinagar, during Operation Mahadev, the focus initially was on the tactical win — the neutralisation of a Lashkar-trained infiltrator. But what followed in Kuiyaan village in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where the 23-year-old hailed from, may have deeper implications than any cross-LoC airstrike. Read More Yuzvendra Chahal has revealed that he saw Virat Kohli and almost every other India player cry in the bathrooms after losing the 2019 World Cup semi-final to New Zealand in Manchester. India lost that match on the reserved day by 18 runs, failing to chase 240 after an excellent bowling performance. Read More Yuzvendra Chahal has finally addressed the viral moment when he wore a t-shirt that read 'Be Your Own Sugar Daddy" on the day of his final divorce hearing with Dhanashree Verma. The cricketer, who had remained largely silent about the separation until recently, opened up about the intent behind the now-infamous outfit in a chat with Raj Shamani. Read More view comments First Published: News india News18 Evening Digest: MEA Reiterates Strong Strategic Partnership With US, ECI Rejects Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Fraud' Charge & Other Stories Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
01-08-2025
- Politics
- News18
'They Brainwash Our Children': How PoK Is Pushing Back Against Pakistan's Terror Network
Last Updated: As villagers chase out Lashkar commanders, teachers shame jihadists, and public funerals turn hostile, Pakistan's long-held terror monopoly in PoK is beginning to crack When Habib Tahir, alias Chotoo, was killed by Indian forces in Harwan, Srinagar, during Operation Mahadev, the focus initially was on the tactical win — the neutralisation of a Lashkar-trained infiltrator. But what followed in Kuiyaan village in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where the 23-year-old hailed from, may have deeper implications than any cross-LoC airstrike. Instead of allowing militant groups to co-opt the funeral into a recruitment spectacle, Chotoo's family barred Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its affiliated JKUM group from attending. When local LET commander Rizwan Hanif arrived with armed guards to defy that decision, a confrontation broke out. His nephew allegedly drew a gun on mourners. The crowd pushed back. The commander fled with his entourage. In a region where fear has long dictated silence, this was an extraordinary reversal. What might have once been an act of silent submission turned into public revolt, and in PoK, that's a line crossed. The Jigra That Could Break A Pattern The backlash didn't end with the funeral. Across villages in PoK, anger has begun to surface, not through militancy, but through rejection. Villagers in Kuiyaan and Khayala are now planning to hold what they call a public 'Jigra', a traditional council to collectively denounce terror recruitment and resist militant activities in their communities. For a region where even mild criticism of jihadist groups invites retaliation, the symbolism of a public forum is hard to overstate. This isn't orchestrated resistance. It's grassroots fatigue. For decades, families have watched young boys cross over into Kashmir, never to return. Chotoo's death, and the armed intrusion at his funeral, became a breaking point. The Viral Rebuke Heard Across The Valley Soon after the funeral, a video began circulating online. It featured Liyaqat Ali, also known as Sardar Bilal, a teacher who said he had taught Chotoo. In the eight-minute video, Ali asked: 'Who are these people sending our children to Kashmir? They brainwash our children and throw them against a military superpower like India." He called out groups like Jamaat-ud-Dawa directly: 'You have been declared a terror group. Don't abuse me. The jihad you are running — don't let others' children die. Your kids study in the US and UK. If you want jihad, go do it against the rich." The video struck a nerve. It travelled across PoK through encrypted chat groups and private shares — a message not of rebellion, but of exhausted clarity. Administrative Acknowledgement And Quiet Policy Shifts The rising civilian resistance in PoK is not only finding voice in villages and on social media, it is also beginning to register in the local administrative machinery, which has long functioned as an extension of Pakistan's deep state. One such moment came in District Bagh, where a resident named Nauman Shehzad sought permission to hold a conference in Khurahat, one that, locals said, included voices sympathetic to radical causes. In previous years, such gatherings, often couched in the language of 'community outreach" or 'religious education", would rarely be questioned, let alone obstructed. But this time, the administration denied permission, citing 'public safety" and 'prevailing circumstances." This quiet decision, from a state that has historically enabled such platforms, suggests a recalibration. It's not a policy shift yet. But it's the first visible administrative hesitation to support the old order. And it may reflect broader international pressure as well, to clamp down on open terror celebration under public scrutiny. The Modi government, meanwhile, has treated the developments in PoK not as an isolated emotional wave, but as vindication of its strategic posture. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a combative Rajya Sabha speech, declared: 'PoK was given away by the Congress. Only the BJP will bring it back." He described Operation Sindoor and Mahadev as decisive and disruptive operations, calibrated to expose Pakistan's terror infrastructure and apply lasting pressure. He went further, arguing that the resistance seen in PoK is the result of a broken terror narrative, a break enabled by India's military retaliation and Pakistan's growing isolation. Rajnath Singh's Declaration: 'They Will Come Back' If Shah gave the political framework, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave it historical and moral heft. Initiating the Rajya Sabha debate, he called Pakistan the 'father of global terrorism", criticised the UN for appointing it to a counter-terror committee, and warned: 'The day is not far when the people of PoK themselves will want to rejoin India." PM Modi's Doctrine: No Talks Without PoK On The Table In his national address post-ceasefire, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, 'If we ever talk to Pakistan, it will be on terror and PoK. Nothing else." The Prime Minister had also cited Pakistan's record of denial, from Osama bin Laden's hiding in Abbottabad to its repeated sheltering of Lashkar and Jaish leaders, as evidence that diplomacy must follow decapitation, not precede it. A Shifting Terrain, But No Peace Yet Even as resistance brews in PoK, and India intensifies its military and diplomatic pressure, Pakistan's deep state has reportedly begun rebuilding. A June report from the Deccan Herald revealed that the ISI is constructing new, smaller terror training camps across PoK, including areas like Athmuqam, Lipa, Kotli, Kahuta, and Chamankot. These camps, each hosting 20–30 recruits, use thermal masking, radar camouflage, and satellite evasion to avoid detection. In short: the ecosystem isn't dismantled. It's mutating. Why This Revolt Matters Pakistan has controlled PoK's narrative through fear and a manufactured culture of martyrdom. But with villagers blocking militant funerals, local commanders being chased out by crowds, teachers publicly rejecting jihad, and police denying permission for suspect gatherings, something fundamental has shifted. This isn't a formal rebellion. It's not yet a movement. But it is something Pakistan fears most: a public loss of legitimacy. What Comes Next top videos View all The ISI will rebuild. India will strike again if provoked. But in between those two certainties lies a fragile new variable: PoK's people, long silent, now beginning to speak. And if they keep speaking, not with slogans, but with rejections, refusals, and refusals to bury lies, Pakistan's real war won't be with India. It'll be with the very territory it claimed to liberate. About the Author Siddhant Mishra Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, ...Read More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Pakistan occupied Kashmir Pakistani Terror Groups view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 01, 2025, 13:44 IST News india 'They Brainwash Our Children': How PoK Is Pushing Back Against Pakistan's Terror Network Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
