Lashkar Terrorists Assembled For Meeting In Akhal Forest Trapped In Encounter With Forces; Operation Enters Day 4 News24 –

‘Operation Akhal’ entered its fourth day on Monday in the dense forested area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Three terrorists have been killed so far in the ongoing operation. Security forces are engaged in a fierce encounter with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who had assembled in the Akhal forest for a strategic meeting.

The security forces, backed by advanced technology including helicopters, drones, and thermal imaging devices, have been relentless in their efforts to neutralize the remaining terrorists hiding in the rugged terrain. Despite the heavy firing and blasts heard on Monday, the operation persists, with the bodies of two terrorists yet to be recovered due to ongoing gunfire and the awareness of hidden threats.

This operation marks the third major counter-terror action in Jammu and Kashmir since last week, resulting in the elimination of eight terrorists so far. Among those neutralized is a local terrorist identified as Haris Nazir Dar from Rajpora, Pulwama, affiliated with LeT and classified as a C-category terrorist active since 2023. The identities of the other terrorists remain undisclosed, though sources confirm the presence of Pakistani nationals among those assembled.

Sources reveal that at least seven Lashkar terrorists, including some of Pakistani origin, had gathered in the Akhal forests to strategize for future activities in the Kashmir Valley. Timely intelligence input enabled security agencies to trap the terrorists in a coordinated encounter, preventing their plans from materializing.

While sources maintain that three terrorists were killed by security forces in the operation so far, only one body was recovered from the operation site. Firing and explosions were heard from the operation site today, on the fourth day of the operation.

This operation follows closely after ‘Operation Mahadev’ last week, where three Pakistani terrorists associated with LeT and involved in the Pahalgam terror attack were eliminated in the Lidwas area of Dachigam. Additionally, ‘Operation Shiv Shakti,’ conducted earlier last week in the Poonch sector, resulted in the killing of two infiltrators attempting to breach the Line of Control.