Fresh encounter erupts in Kishtwar as Kulgam anti-terror op drags into 10th day

Srinagar: Even as a fierce gun battle in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district entered its 10th day on Sunday, security forces were engaged in a fresh encounter with terrorists in Kishtwar district of the Jammu region, officials said.

They said the latest exchange of fire broke out in the Dool area of the hilly district after security forces launched a search operation based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists.

“On being challenged, the hiding terrorists — believed to be two in number — opened fire on the search parties, triggering a gunfight,” an official said.

The Army’s White Knight Corps while confirming the encounter posted on X: “Contact with #Terrorists. Alert Indian Army troops while carrying out an intelligence based operation have established contact with terrorists in general area of Dul in Kishtwar in early hours of 10 Aug 2025. Gunfire exchanged. Operation under progress.”

Meanwhile, the prolonged anti-terror operation in the Akhal forest area of Kulgam — launched on August 1 — has become one of the longest such encounters in the Valley in recent years. On Saturday, two soldiers, Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, were killed, while two others were injured in an intense overnight exchange of fire.

The operation began when security forces zeroed in on a group of militants hiding in the dense Akhal forests. A joint team of the Army, CRPF, and police has been combing the thick jungle for 10 days, facing intermittent gunfights. One terrorist was killed on the first day, but security officials believe four to five heavily armed militants remain at large.

Six soldiers have been injured since the start of the operation. Security sources say the terrain has slowed progress. “The dense forest and tough topography necessitate slow, cautious movement, which prolongs the operation,” an officer said.

Officials also believe the militants are highly trained in jungle warfare and “almost certainly Pakistani terrorists” based on their tactics and determination. “From their level of motivation and training, it is clear they are battle-hardened,” a police officer said.

The Akhal forest area, they added, is strategically challenging, with multiple routes connecting it to other parts of south Kashmir, making it difficult to prevent militant movement. “Reinforcements are moving in from different directions to cut off escape routes and corner them into a small area,” the officer said.

The parallel gunfight in Kishtwar reflects what security experts say is a broader trend of militants attempting to operate in rugged, difficult-to-access terrain in both the Valley and Jammu region, complicating counter-insurgency efforts.

As of Sunday, both encounters were ongoing, with security forces maintaining a tight cordon around the suspected hideouts, reports said.