POK Funeral of Pahalgam Attacker Exposes Pakistan’s Role in Terror Strike

The recent funeral of Tahir Habib in his native village of Khai Gala, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), has provided further confirmation of Pakistan’s direct involvement in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Habib was one of the terrorists neutralized by Indian security forces in “Operation Mahadev,” a retaliatory strike following the massacre that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
The funeral, held in absentia, took an unexpected turn when a local Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, Rizwan Hanif, attempted to attend. The deceased’s family, wary of the militant group’s presence, barred LeT members. This led to a confrontation where villagers reportedly stood up to Hanif and his armed guards, forcing them to leave. The incident is being interpreted as a significant sign of growing public resentment in PoK against Pakistan’s state-sponsored terror machine and the militants it nurtures.
Tahir Habib, who had a history with various militant groups, was part of The Resistance Front (TRF), an LeT proxy, which carried out the attack targeting Hindu tourists. His elimination, along with two other terrorists, was a major breakthrough for Indian security forces. The funeral incident, coupled with other intelligence, is further solidifying India’s case on the international stage, highlighting the interconnected web of terror groups operating with impunity from Pakistani soil.