Terror shadows at Shoaib Akhtar’s family tragedy.

LeT Leaders’ presence at funeral sparks global alarm.

The passing of Shahid Akhtar, elder brother of former Pakistani cricket star Shoaib Akhtar, has become the center of a storm far beyond personal grief. His funeral, held on June 24 at Islamabad’s H-8 graveyard, drew widespread attention after senior figures of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a UN-designated terror outfit, were seen openly attending the ceremony. Among them was Saifullah Kasuri, LeT’s deputy chief, notorious for his incendiary anti-India rhetoric and direct involvement in the group’s operations.

A viral video captured Kasuri alongside other LeT leaders, men linked to some of the deadliest attacks in India, including the 2008 Mumbai carnage and the Pahalgam massacre. Also present was Inam Ur Rehman, president of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a political front created by Hafiz Saeed to bypass bans on his earlier organizations. The PMML even contested Pakistan’s 2024 elections, underscoring how extremist networks continue to embed themselves within the country’s political fabric.

Kasuri’s public appearance is particularly troubling given his recent threats of another 26/11-style strike, this time via the sea route. He has openly accused India of “water terrorism” following New Delhi’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and admitted to receiving invitations from the Pakistani army to lead funeral prayers for its soldiers. Such revelations reinforce long-standing suspicions of the military’s tacit support for extremist groups.

India’s response to LeT’s activities has been forceful. Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam attack, targeted Lashkar’s headquarters in Muridke and destroyed multiple terror camps across Pakistan. These strikes rattled the group, yet Kasuri and his associates continue to project defiance, using public platforms to issue threats and showcase their influence.

The presence of terrorists at a high-profile funeral highlights Pakistan’s ongoing patronage of banned outfits and raises serious questions about the state’s willingnessor abilityto curb their reach. For Shoaib Akhtar, who retired from cricket in 2011 but remains a prominent commentator, the tragedy of losing his brother has been overshadowed by the disturbing visibility of extremists exploiting the occasion.

This incident is more than a family bereavement; it is a stark reminder of how terror networks remain entrenched in Pakistan’s social and political landscape. The global community, particularly India, views such open displays of extremist power as evidence of continued state complicity, deepening concerns about regional security and stability.