Pulwama terror attack mastermind Arjun Mand Gulzar alias Hamza Burhan, a wanted militant, has been reportedly killed by unidentified assailants in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The incident has drawn significant attention due to the subsequent gathering of senior terror operatives at his funeral ceremonies.
Reports indicate that Hamza Burhan was buried in Islamabad, Pakistan, where multiple senior commanders and key figures from various terror organisations attended his last rites. Among the prominent attendees was Syed Salahuddin, the chief of Hizbul Mujahideen and a most-wanted terrorist, highlighting the high-profile nature of the funeral.
Senior Al-Badr commander and chief Bakht Zameen Khan also attended the funeral to pay his respects. Security at the venue was reportedly tightened, with dozens of armed militants deployed for protection. Armed cadres carrying AK-47 rifles were seen surrounding key figures during the ceremony, raising concerns over the scale of militant mobilisation.
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▶️Hamza Burhan buried in Islamabad. Top terror commanders seen at his funeral.
▶️Al Badr Chief Bakht Zameen also present. #HamzaBurhan #Islamabad #ITVideo | @ArvindOjha @AnjaliPandey06 pic.twitter.com/qQo3OgJ8dT— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) May 23, 2026
Intelligence-linked reports suggest that Hamza Burhan maintained close ties with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). A serving ISI officer, identified as Colonel Rizwan, is said to have acted as his handler and provided him with VIP-level security support. He allegedly operated his network from a facility known as the “Match Factory” in Muzaffarabad.
Hamza Burhan was reportedly involved in coordinating cross-border illicit activities, including drug trafficking, counterfeit currency circulation, and arms smuggling in Kashmir, along with former Al-Barq commander Farooq Qureshi. The presence of senior militant figures at his funeral has sparked criticism and renewed debate over the operational space allegedly available to terror networks in the region.