Two Indian Army soldiers lost their lives during an encounter with terrorists in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday night, the Army confirmed on Saturday. Two more soldiers were injured in the same anti-terror operation, which began on August 1.
So far, one terrorist has been killed. The gunfight has now entered its ninth day, making it one of the longest-running operations in the Valley in recent times.
In a post on X, the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army wrote: "Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. #IndianArmy expresses deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the bereaved families. Operation continues."
According to officials, senior police and Army commanders are regularly visiting the encounter site to oversee the mission. Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhath, who is personally supervising the situation, said: "Yes, it's taking time because of the difficult terrain and forest area. But we will track them down."
The operation started after security forces received specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the Akhal forest area of south Kashmir.
The first exchange of gunfire took place on August 1, after which the operation was paused for the night. Security forces tightened the cordon and sent additional reinforcements. The next day, firing resumed and one terrorist was neutralised. His identity and group affiliation have not yet been confirmed.
Security forces have maintained a strong cordon around the area and are using drones, helicopters, and para commandos to locate and neutralise the hiding terrorists.
Police sources said that initial intelligence suggested the presence of five terrorists, including at least three foreigners skilled in jungle warfare. Officials noted that very few local terrorists in Kashmir are currently trained to withstand such prolonged operations.
Police sources revealed that at the start of the operation, intelligence indicated the presence of five terrorists in the area. Among them, at least three are believed to be foreign nationals, reportedly trained in advanced jungle warfare tactics that make them harder to track and neutralise. Such foreign terrorists are often well-armed, familiar with mountainous terrain, and skilled in using forests for cover. Officials added that the number of local terrorists in Kashmir who possess the capability to withstand prolonged operations has significantly reduced in recent years, mainly due to continuous counter-terror efforts by security forces.
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