Hamza Burhan, the alleged mastermind behind the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, was killed by unknown gunmen in a crowded market in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This incident has reignited discussions about internal rivalries among terrorist factions and the future of Pakistan-backed militant operations in Kashmir. Burhan, whose real name was Arjumand Dar, left his home in Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir, in 2017 under the pretext of pursuing studies, later joining Al-Badr in Pakistan. He was implicated in the Pulwama attack that resulted in the deaths of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, as well as subsequent attacks on security forces. Analysts believe that Burhan's death could temporarily disrupt the recruitment and logistics networks utilized by terror groups in the region, although there are concerns that another handler may soon replace him. The identity of the attackers remains unclear, and no group has claimed responsibility for the assassination, raising further questions about the dynamics of militant operations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.