Security forces intensify counter-terror ops across J&K

Srinagar, Aug 1: In the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, security forces have significantly intensified their counter-terror operations across Jammu and Kashmir, killing 12 terrorists over the past 100 days including some most wanted.

The crackdown is being viewed as one of the most focused and sustained counter-terror drives in recent times. Senior officials in security establishments said that operations will see more intensification with each passing day.

Among the 12 terrorists neutralized, six were identified as Pakistani nationals, affiliated with groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), while the remaining six were locals who had been involved in several terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley, officials said. “They were key assets for terrorist groups and were directly linked to planning or executing major attacks, including the Pahalgam incident,” a senior police official said here.

The most prominent operation post-Pahalgam was Operation Mahadev, in which three terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack were killed. The trio — Suleiman, Afghan, and Jibran, all LeT operatives — were killed in an intense gunfight in the Dachigam area near Srinagar on July 28. The joint operation involved the Army, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Just 24 hours later, Operation Shiv Shakti was launched in another part of Kashmir, leading to the killing of two terrorists in Poonch.

In the initial week following the Pahalgam attack, four major counter-terror operations were launched, primarily in South Kashmir’s Shopian and Pulwama districts. Security forces relied heavily on real-time intelligence and drone surveillance to track and isolate terrorist hideouts.

In Shopian’s Keller forest, a major operation led to the elimination of three LeT terrorists. On May 15, another trio of terrorists was gunned down in Tral’s Nader area, known for its dense terrain and history of insurgent activity.

Security establishment officials said that counter-terror operations remain dynamic and adaptive. “It’s difficult to put an exact number on the ongoing operations,” another senior police official said. “Units across J&K are continuously conducting area-dominance patrols, intelligence-based raids, and cordon-and-search operations (CASOs) in sensitive zones.”

“With increased vigil and coordination among ground forces and intelligence agencies, the security establishment aims to prevent future attacks, dismantle sleeper cells, and maintain momentum in the fight against cross-border terrorism.”