Defiant voices from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), after the death of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Habib Tahir alias Chotoo, that signaled a rare rupture in the region's tightly controlled militant narrative.
Killed by Indian forces during Operation Mahadev in Srinagar's Harwan, Chotoo’s death was initially marked as a tactical win: the elimination of a Lashkar-trained infiltrator. But what followed in his native village of Kuiyaan, PoK, could have longer-lasting implications than any cross-LoC military strike.
Funeral as Flashpoint: The Public Rejects Lashkar
Rather than allowing militant groups to co-opt the funeral, Chotoo’s family barred Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliate JKUM from attending. When LeT commander Rizwan Hanif attempted to defy the family’s wishes, accompanied by armed guards, tensions escalated. His nephew reportedly drew a weapon on mourners — only to be driven back by the angry crowd. The confrontation forced Hanif to flee, marking a remarkable shift in public sentiment in a region long silenced by fear.
The ‘Jigra’: From Submission to Defiance
The defiance didn’t end there. Villagers in Kuiyaan and nearby Khayala are now organizing a public Jigra — a traditional assembly — to denounce terror recruitment and reject militant interference in their communities. In PoK, where even mild dissent is often met with brutal retaliation, the decision to hold an open forum is a radical act of collective courage.
This is not a politically orchestrated movement. It is grassroots exhaustion — the breaking point of families who, for decades, have watched their sons disappear across the LoC, never to return. Chotoo’s funeral and the armed intrusion became a catalyst.
A Viral Message of Clarity
Soon after the funeral, a video began circulating quietly across encrypted networks. In it, Liyaqat Ali, a local teacher who once taught Chotoo, posed a scathing question:
“Who are these people sending our children to Kashmir? They brainwash them and throw them against a military superpower like India.”
Ali directly called out banned groups like Jamaat-ud-Dawa:
“You send others' children to die in the name of jihad while your own kids study in the US and UK. If you truly believe in jihad, fight it yourself—against the rich.”
His message didn’t call for rebellion; it called for reflection. But it struck a chord across PoK.
Administrative Hesitation: A Quiet Shift in Policy
The growing civilian discontent is not limited to public forums and viral videos. It is now echoing inside the local administrative framework, traditionally aligned with Pakistan's military establishment.
A telling example came from District Bagh, where one Nauman Shehzad sought permission for a community event in Khurahat. Previously, such gatherings—often disguised as religious education or outreach—faced no scrutiny. This time, the local administration denied permission, citing “public safety” and “prevailing circumstances.”
While subtle, the move hints at a policy recalibration—a possible response to mounting internal fatigue and international pressure to curb public platforms that glorify militancy.
India’s Response: Hard Power, Harder Rhetoric
New Delhi, meanwhile, sees these developments not as isolated acts of dissent, but as a validation of its hardline posture.
In the Rajya Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah declared,
“PoK was gifted away by the Congress. Only the BJP will bring it back.”
He lauded Operations Sindoor and Mahadev as calibrated efforts to dismantle Pakistan’s terror networks and apply consistent pressure. Shah argued that the visible disillusionment in PoK is a direct outcome of India's strategic retaliation and Pakistan’s diplomatic isolation.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, initiating the parliamentary debate, went further:
“Pakistan is the father of global terrorism. The day is not far when PoK’s people themselves will seek to rejoin India.”
And Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a national address following the recent ceasefire, stated unequivocally:
“If there are to be talks with Pakistan, they will only be about terrorism and PoK — nothing else.”
The ISI Rebuilds: A Fragile Peace, A Persistent Threat
Despite signs of civilian resistance, Pakistan’s deep state is already adapting. A recent Deccan Herald report revealed that the ISI is quietly constructing smaller, more discreet training camps across PoK — in locations like Athmuqam, Lipa, Kotli, Kahuta, and Chamankot. These camps are reportedly shielded using thermal masking, radar camouflage, and satellite evasion technologies.
The terror infrastructure is not dismantled — it's evolving.
Why This Moment Matters
For decades, PoK has lived under the shadow of fear and martyrdom mythology. But that narrative is now cracking:
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A funeral that banned militants
- A crowd that chased away a commander
- A teacher who spoke truth to power
- An administration that hesitated
- A region that has started to whisper, and now speak
This isn’t yet a revolution. But it’s what Pakistan fears most: the erosion of its moral and political legitimacy in a land it claims to have ‘liberated.’
What Comes Next?
The ISI will rebuild. India will respond if provoked. But between those two certainties lies an emerging variable — the people of PoK. For the first time in decades, they are not just being silenced victims of cross-border narratives. They are beginning to push back.
And if they continue to speak — not with slogans, but with rejections, refusals, and simple truths — Pakistan’s most difficult battle may no longer be across the LoC.
It may be within its own boundaries.
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