According to a statement from the Chinar Corps, the gunfight continued through the night as security forces maintained pressure on the hiding terrorists. (Image: X/ Chinar Corps - Indian Army)
In a continued offensive against cross-border terrorism, Indian security forces neutralised a terrorist during Operation Akhal in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday morning. The Indian Army confirmed that the encounter is still ongoing and the area remains under strict vigil.
According to a statement from the Chinar Corps, the gunfight continued through the night as security forces maintained pressure on the hiding terrorists.
“Intermittent and intense firefight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact,” the Chinar Corps posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
The post further added, “One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces so far.”
The latest encounter marks the third major anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir within the past seven days, indicating a clear escalation in terrorist infiltration attempts and India’s response to counter them.
Two terrorists were killed during Operation Shivshakti in the Poonch district earlier this week on Wednesday, near the Line of Control (LoC). After Indian forces intercepted a group attempting to infiltrate from across the border, the encounter broke out on Tuesday night in the Kalsian-Gulpur area.
Leading to a prolonged gunfight and elimination of the infiltrators, who were believed to be part of a coordinated infiltration mission, the security personnel acted swiftly.
On July 28, three high-ranking terrorists of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in Operation Mahadev, an encounter that unfolded in the forested Lidwas area near Harwan, on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Among the neutralised was Suleiman, the alleged mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, a deadly incident that claimed the lives of multiple security personnel. The other two terrorists, identified as Afghan and Jibran, were also senior operatives of the banned group.
According to official sources, these operatives were part of a sleeper cell structure and had been involved in multiple attacks on Indian forces in recent months.
The recent back-to-back encounters suggest a heightened focus on neutralising Pakistan-backed terrorist threats ahead of Independence Day. Intelligence agencies have reported increased activity along the LoC, especially in southern and central Kashmir, where infiltration attempts are being made under the cover of dense forests and rough terrain.
With Operation Akhal still underway, security forces remain on high alert. The region is witnessing coordinated efforts by the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and local police to prevent any untoward incident as August 15 approaches.
India’s multi-layered counter-insurgency strategy appears to be pushing back against a fresh wave of terrorism, sending a strong message to hostile groups and their backers across the border.
