The funeral prayers of slain Al-Badr commander Hamza Burhan in Islamabad on Friday witnessed the presence of several Pakistan-based terror leaders, including Hizbul Mujahideen supremo Syed Salahuddin and Al-Badr chief Bakht Zameen Khan, once again drawing attention to the continued existence of militant infrastructure operating openly inside Pakistan.
Hamza Burhan, also known as Arjumand Gulzar Dar and codenamed “Doctor,” was killed earlier last week in Muzaffarabad after unidentified gunmen opened fire on him outside an educational institution where he had reportedly been serving as a principal under a civilian identity. Police officials in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) stated that Burhan sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head and later died during treatment. One suspect has reportedly been detained for questioning.
Visuals circulating on social media from the funeral gathering showed tight security arrangements, with heavily armed personnel deployed around senior militant figures attending the prayers. Eyewitness accounts and local reports suggested that certain individuals believed to be associated with Pakistan’s intelligence establishment were also present during the funeral proceedings, though there was no official confirmation from Pakistani authorities.
Security analysts believe the public appearance of internationally designated militant leaders at such gatherings reflects the entrenched terror ecosystem operating from Pakistani soil. The event has also reignited debate over Pakistan’s repeated denials regarding the presence of banned terror outfits within its territory.
Originally hailing from Pulwama district in South Kashmir, Burhan had crossed over to Pakistan several years ago and subsequently rose through the ranks of the banned Al-Badr outfit. India’s Ministry of Home Affairs designated him as a terrorist in 2022 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in recruitment, financing and radicalisation activities linked to militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Intelligence sources have long accused Burhan of coordinating recruitment modules targeting Kashmiri youth and facilitating cross-border terror logistics. He was also allegedly connected to networks involved in the planning and support structure behind the 2019 Pulwama suicide attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel, one of the deadliest terror strikes in Kashmir in recent years.
Officials familiar with counter-terror operations said Burhan had been living discreetly in Muzaffarabad under the guise of an academic administrator while continuing to oversee militant activities and maintain links with handlers across the border. The circumstances surrounding his killing remain unclear. While Pakistani investigators have launched a probe into the incident, analysts point to a recent pattern of mysterious targeted killings involving extremist operatives and designated terrorists in Pakistan and PoK over the past two years. Several former commanders and radical figures linked to anti-India terror groups have been attacked by unknown assailants in incidents that remain unresolved.
The funeral gathering in Islamabad, attended by senior leaders of proscribed organisations, is expected to further intensify international scrutiny over Pakistan’s handling of UN-designated terror entities and militant organisations operating from its territory.
