Srinagar, August 2 – A terrorist was killed in an ongoing encounter between security forces and militants in the Akhal forest area of Kulgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday morning. The operation is still underway, according to the Indian Army.
The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army confirmed the development on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the encounter began after specific intelligence inputs led to a cordon-and-search operation late Friday night.
“Intermittent and intense firefight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact. One terrorist has been neutralised so far. Operation Akhal continues,” the Army stated.
A String of High-Profile Anti-Terror Missions
The Kulgam encounter is the latest in a series of intensified counter-terrorism operations by Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Just days earlier, security forces eliminated three high-profile terrorists involved in the deadly Pahalgam attack under Operation Mahadev.
Among those killed in the July 28 encounter in Mulnar (Harwan) near Dachigam National Park was Sulieman alias Asif, believed to be the mastermind behind the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were gunned down at Baisaran meadows.
Two of Asif’s associates were also neutralized:
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Jibran, wanted in connection with the Sonamarg Tunnel attack (2024)
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Hamza Afghani, an infiltrator from Pakistan
Following the Pahalgam tragedy, the armed forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting the terror infrastructure supported across the border in Pakistan.
Two More Terrorists Neutralized Near LoC in Poonch
In another development, two terrorists were gunned down near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector on Thursday. According to officials, the duo had infiltrated from Pakistan and were intercepted shortly after entering Indian territory.
Police sources confirmed that the terrorists were heavily armed and likely part of a larger infiltration attempt, foiled by alert security personnel stationed near the LoC.
India’s Crackdown on Cross-Border Terror Continues
The latest encounters underscore the Indian security forces’ resolve to eliminate terrorism from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. In the wake of increasing infiltration attempts and high-profile terror strikes, the Army and paramilitary units have ramped up surveillance, border control, and counter-infiltration operations.
With multiple successful missions — including Operation Mahadev, Operation Sindoor, and now Operation Akhal — security forces have delivered a clear message: India will not tolerate cross-border terrorism.
