Operation Akhal, a counter-terrorism operation in the Akhal forest area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, has entered its third day. The operation, which began on Friday, involves a joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Indian Army, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
As of Sunday, August 3, 2025, the operation has resulted in the deaths of three terrorists and injuries to one soldier. This brings the total number of terrorists eliminated in the ongoing operation to six, after three were killed on Saturday. Intense gunfire and explosions continued through the night in the Akhal forest area as security forces maintained contact with the hiding terrorists.
The operation was launched following intelligence inputs about the presence of three to five terrorists in the Akhal Khulsan forest area. Security forces initiated a cordon and search operation, which led to an encounter with the terrorists. After an initial exchange of fire, the operation was halted on Friday night and resumed on Saturday.
The terrorists killed on Saturday belonged to The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The TRF had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.
The Indian Army's Chinar Corps stated that the gunfight continued throughout Saturday night with intermittent yet intense exchanges of fire. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact. The joint operation involves personnel from the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Special Operations Group (SOG).
Security forces have been carrying out aggressive operations against terrorists in the hinterland, while the Army has been on maximum alert guarding the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The coordinated and information-backed operations of the joint forces are aimed at dismantling the ecosystem of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, rather than focusing solely on the elimination of gun-wielding terrorists. These operations also target drug smuggling and overground workers, as funds generated by hawala money rackets and drug smuggling are believed to sustain terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, a separate encounter unfolded on July 30 along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army's White Knight Corps reported detecting suspicious movement near the border fence, where two individuals were seen acting under suspicious circumstances. When challenged, the suspects opened fire, triggering a swift response from Army troops. Security forces continue to maintain a high level of alert across the region as operations remain active in both the Kulgam and Poonch sectors.
