Anti-terror operation enters third day in Kulgam

The anti-terrorist operation in Kulgam district entered its third day on Sunday, as security forces continued a sustained firefight with militants holed up in the dense forest area.

"Intermittent exchange of fire has been ongoing since Sunday morning," an official confirmed, indicating the prolonged nature of the encounter.

The operation, code-named ‘Akhal’, was launched on Friday evening after security forces received specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of militants in the forest region. So far, two terrorists have been killed, while officials believe that two to three more may still be trapped in the area.

While some unconfirmed reports suggest that three militants have been neutralised, the Army has not yet issued an official statement confirming the exact number of casualties.

Senior Army and police officials have reached the site to oversee the operation and coordinate strategy to ensure that no militant escapes. According to sources, the group of terrorists is affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and comprises primarily local militants. It remains unclear whether any Pakistani nationals are among them.

The Army has deployed drones and other surveillance tools to pinpoint the exact locations of the hiding militants. The operation was paused overnight for security reasons and resumed at first light on Sunday.

Security forces are in the process of identifying the slain militants. Senior officers from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Army are on the ground, working in close coordination and issuing real-time directives to neutralise all threats.

This is one of the most significant anti-terror operations in the region following ‘Operation Mahadev’, in which three Pakistani terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack were gunned down on July 28 on the outskirts of Srinagar.