A Young Kashmiri lad Iftikaar Bhatt, with shoulder length hair and wearing the traditional Kashmiri Pheran, approached the dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen in Shopian, Kashmir sometime during 2003.
When asked why he wanted to fight the Indian army, he threw the choicest expletives at the army in chaste kashmiri, whom he held responsible for his brother's death during a stone pelting incident.
When his story checked out, he was taken to Pakistan for further training.
Unlike other recruits this young lad displayed outstanding initiative and religious zeal and was promptly marked for further leadership and ideological training.
He was finally given a chance to cross the LOC and carry out an attack on an Indian army Outpost.
In an unprecedented move, he was deputed directly under Abu Sabjar and Abu Torara(war names), Commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen with decades of effective insurgency experience under their belt, for further grooming and leadership training.
2004. He convinced both that he can carry out an attack on the army outpost causing maximum damage. He took them to a vantage point and detailed his plan, impressing them both.
Abu Sabjar though had a doubt on how this young guy can plan a military attack so meticulously
