The funeral of Habib Tahir, one of the terrorists killed in Jammu & Kashmir’s Operation Mahadev, took an unexpected and tense turn in Kuiyaan village, Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), on July 30. Tahir was among three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives neutralised in Harwan, Srinagar, on July 28.
Tahir had been linked to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 tourists, including a Nepali citizen. According to officials, he was trained and recruited by the Pakistan-based LeT, with The Resistance Front (TRF)—an LeT offshoot banned by the United States—having claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam strike.
Armed LeT Men Disrupt Funeral Despite Family’s Objection
Photos and videos circulating on social media captured the initial calm as locals assembled for final prayers. However, the situation escalated dramatically with the arrival of Rizwan Hanif, a local LeT commander, and his armed group—despite the family’s explicit wish to keep the funeral free of militant presence.
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Tensions peaked when Hanif’s nephew allegedly pointed a firearm at mourners, provoking public outrage and a direct confrontation. Eventually, Hanif and his entourage were compelled to vacate the site.
This disturbance at the funeral adds to growing signs of internal discontent in PoK and a subtle shift in Pakistan’s internal handling of terror-linked activities. Notably, Pakistani police have recently cracked down on terrorist-organised events and limited their public visibility.
Pakistan’s Denial Contradicted by Ground Realities
While Pakistan continues to maintain that LeT has been “dismantled” and denies any links to the Pahalgam terror strike, events like Tahir’s funeral—and earlier ones attended by Pakistani military officials—suggest otherwise.
In May, India had released names of Pakistani officials who participated in funerals of LeT terrorists killed during Operation Sindoor, further underlining Pakistan’s complicity in cross-border terrorism.The funeral in Muridke, Punjab—widely known as Pakistan’s “terror nursery” and LeT headquarters—was led by Abdul Rauf, a U.S.-designated global terrorist, indicating the continued activity of banned outfits under state protection.
Despite Pakistan’s claim that the Pahalgam investigation remains “inconclusive,” the repeated presence of known LeT figures at such events raises persistent concerns over the country’s true intentions.
