‘But Qayyum’s mother scolded me. “You congratulate me and abuse me in the same breath? My son was Pakistan’s lion, and I am proud that he laid down his life fighting the battle for the weak and innocent Kashmiris. If I had another son, I would have prepared him myself for his departure to Kashmir, to renew the battle his brother could not complete,” she said to me.

‘The two brave-hearts are not here. They have been accepted in Paradise because of their sacrifice, while their mortal bodies are dragged from one mortuary to another in India. Let us pray for their souls.’ Abu-Lakhvi paused and took a sip of water before leading the gathering in prayers.

Even as Abu-Lakhvi was offering the prayer, many in the congregation were weeping openly. Tears were trickling down Abu-Lakhvi’s cheeks as well.

The veteran of many a terror campaign, Abu-Lakhvi, who had had his first taste of guerrilla warfare when he led a band of mujahideens in Afghanistan in the 1980s against the ‘infidel, communist’ USSR army, was still deeply affected by the death of the two youths and did not make any attempt to hide his mourning.

An hour later, in the basement of bungalow number D-13 in Khuda Baksh Enclave, Abu-Lakhvi met Atharv aka Imran and the other four CTC operatives. They had all just returned from Firdaus Masjid and Abu-Lakhvi’s grief was yet to lose its sharp edge. No one spoke for a few minutes. Finally, Abu-Lakhvi offered the five boys glasses of saffron milk.

‘How was your experience at the Daura-e-Aam and Daura-e-Khaas training, Imran?’ he asked.

‘We learned a few useful things: the need to stay fit, the magic of AK-47 automatics and what we must do for the ummat,’ Atharv said, choosing to keep his response short.

At the Maaskar, the recruits had often talked about Abu-Lakhvi’s sixth sense. This sixth sense, coupled with his sharp analytical skills, enabled him to spot trouble and phony jihadis. Atharv did not want to test him.

‘Whatever you were so far, whatever you did or did not do, forget it all. None of that matters to me, to Lashkar, and to you. What you do now is what will make you. Dedicate your life to jihad. If your life or its sacrifice can wipe the tears of even one Kashmiri Muslim girl, then your life will have met its supreme end.’

‘Haan, janaab,’ Atharv said.

‘We must restore the honour of the community by taking up arms and sacrificing the self. We have to liberate Kashmir, Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Bengal and Junagadh. India will be given just two options: the sword or conversion. To set India right, Lashkar needs brave-hearts who are willing to die for the cause,’ Abu-Lakhvi declared, looking Atharv straight in the eye.