Pahalgam Attacker’s Symbolic Funeral in PoK Underscores Pakistan’s Involvement
Janaza in Khai Gala held for slain LeT terrorist Tahir Habib; tensions rise in local community
A symbolic funeral held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has further confirmed Pakistan’s role in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead in Jammu and Kashmir. The ceremony, held for Tahir Habib (also known as Jibran)—one of the three terrorists eliminated in Operation Mahadev—took place in his native village Khai Gala, located in PoK.
Tahir Habib, a former Pakistani soldier and a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative, had been categorised as a Category ‘A’ terrorist and was on the radar of Indian security agencies for his involvement in cross-border terrorism. He was neutralised alongside two other terrorists in the Lidwas forest near Harwan on the outskirts of Srinagar on July 28, in a significant anti-terror success for Indian forces.
Videos shared on Telegram show elderly villagers and locals gathering for funeral prayers (Janaza-e-Ghaib) in memory of Habib. While the ceremony was intended as a low-key tribute, it took a confrontational turn when Rizwan Hanif, a local Lashkar commander, attempted to attend the gathering. According to eyewitness accounts, Habib’s family rejected the presence of Lashkar operatives, which led to a tense standoff.
A source familiar with the situation revealed, “Lashkar men reportedly threatened mourners at gunpoint, which triggered outrage among the villagers.” The people of Khai Gala, who have shown increasing resistance to militant influences, are now reportedly planning a community-wide boycott against terror recruitment efforts in the region.
Another local source added, “The fact that a senior Lashkar commander was forced to leave the village under public pressure reflects shifting sentiments on the ground.”
This incident not only highlights growing local resistance to terrorist groups in PoK but also validates the Indian security establishment’s claims of direct Pakistani involvement in the Pahalgam massacre. It also aligns with India’s broader counter-terror response, including Operation Sindoor, aimed at dismantling cross-border terror infrastructure following the April attack.
During a recent address in the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that the terrorists eliminated in Operation Mahadev—Suleiman, Afghan, and Jibran (Tahir Habib)—were all senior Lashkar operatives involved in planning and executing the Pahalgam attack.
With growing unrest in PoK and the continued pressure from Indian security forces, the incident serves as yet another indication of the shrinking space for terror groups operating from across the border.
