Kulgam anti-terror operation called off after 11 days
Srinagar , Aug 11: The high-intensity counter-terror operation in the dense Akhal forests of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district in south Kashmir was officially called off on Monday, 11 days after it was launched following credible inputs about the presence of heavily armed terrorists in the region.
The operation, one of the most prolonged in recent years in the Valley, has ended without neutralizing the entire group of terrorists — who are believed to have managed to escape after an initial firefight that left two Army soldiers dead and one local terrorist dead.
The operation was triggered over 10 days ago when security forces launched a massive cordon-and-search mission in the remote and thickly forested Akhal belt — a treacherous terrain in the upper reaches of Kulgam, notorious for providing natural cover to terrorists . Initial contact was established in the early days of the operation, leading to a fierce exchange of fire in which one local terrorist was killed. However, the encounter also claimed the lives of two Army personnel.
Following the initial engagement, the terrorists managed to slip away into the rugged forest landscape, evading the dragnet laid by the joint team of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, and elite Para (Special Forces). Despite sustained efforts, including intensive ground searches, drone surveillance, thermal imaging, and deployment of sniffer dogs, no fresh contact was established with the militants in the last two days.
With no further exchange of fire reported since Saturday and mounting evidence that the terrorists may have already escaped, the operation was formally called off on Monday.
“The operation has now shifted from active engagement to a ‘search and flush-out’ phase,” a senior security official said, adding that forces continue to comb the adjoining areas to rule out the presence of any remaining terrorists.
The challenging terrain, thick foliage, and unpredictable weather conditions significantly hampered the security forces’ efforts throughout the operation.
Senior officers, including J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat and IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi, visited the site on Sunday to assess the situation and coordinate multi-agency response efforts. Their presence at the scene underscored the strategic importance of the operation, both in terms of counter-terror efforts and regional security.
The Akhal operation is part of a broader anti-terrorism crackdown in south Kashmir — a region that continues to witness militant activity despite intensified efforts by the security grid. While the killing of one terrorist offers partial success, the loss of two soldiers and the escape of remaining militants underscore the persistent challenges security forces face in combating terrorism in the Valley’s unforgiving terrain.
