Srinagar: The anti-terror operation in the dense Akhal forest area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district entered its fourth consecutive day on Sunday.
The operation, codenamed OP Akhal, was launched last week after credible intelligence inputs suggested the presence of terrorists in the heavily forested terrain. The encounter has seen heavy exchanges of fire, including explosions, followed by a lull in gunfire. The security cordon remains intact, and forces have tightened their grip around the suspected hideouts.
To track down the remaining militants, security forces deployed high-tech surveillance equipment, including drones and thermal imaging systems. Helicopters were also used to scan inaccessible areas of the forest. Elite units of the Army’s Para Special Forces have been brought in to lead the ground offensive.
Top-ranking officers from the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police are closely monitoring the operation. The terrain and dense vegetation are posing operational challenges, officials said.
“This operation reflects the precision and coordination of our alert troops, who have been engaging with calibrated fire and maintaining continuous contact. One terrorist has been neutralized so far; the operation is ongoing,” the Army stated in a formal update.
OP AKHAL, Kulgam
Contact established in General Area Akhal, Kulgam. Joint Operation in progress.#Kashmir@adgpi@NorthernComd_IA pic.twitter.com/d2cHZKiC61
— Chinar Corps🍁 – Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) August 1, 2025
The security forces confirmed the elimination of three terrorists so far. However, only one body has been recovered. The first terrorist to be neutralized in OP Akhal was identified as Haris Nazir Dar, a local from Rajpora in Pulwama district, affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit. He had been active since 2023 and was categorized as a C-grade terrorist.
Security forces have confirmed the killing of two more terrorists during the operation, although their identities are yet to be established and their bodies are still to be recovered.
OP Akhal marks the third major anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir within the past eight days, reflecting an intensified crackdown on terror networks in the region. So far, eight terrorists have been gunned down in three separate operations.
On Wednesday, security forces launched Operation Shiv Shakti in the Poonch sector, killing two infiltrators attempting to cross the Line of Control (LoC). Both were neutralised before they could breach Indian territory.
Before that, Operation Mahadev was carried out in the Dachigam forest area, where three Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, allegedly involved in the recent Pahalgam attack, were eliminated in the Lidwas forest.
Security across Jammu and Kashmir remains on high alert as anti-terror operations continue in forested and border areas. Forces have ramped up patrolling, intelligence gathering, and coordination among agencies to counter infiltration and eliminate sleeper cells.
