Pakistani Lashkar Operative Killed in Budgam Encounter Identified

Jammu and Kashmir Police have identified the terrorist killed in a gunfight in the Pirpanjal mountains as Yasir, a Pakistani national and operative of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group. The identification was confirmed on Saturday, a day after the encounter, with police releasing the slain terrorist's picture.

In an official statement on X, the J&K Police confirmed, "The terrorist neutralised, during Op Ashdar, has been identified as Yasir, a Pakistani national of Lashkar e Taiba." The operation was launched on Thursday in the Yousmarg area of Budgam district following specific intelligence inputs about terrorist presence in the region.

The encounter began after a joint team of the Indian Army, J&K Police, and CRPF cordoned off the area in Ashdar Gali. Security forces challenged suspicious movement, prompting terrorists to open fire, leading to a fierce exchange. One terrorist was neutralised, and an AK rifle was recovered from the site. A search operation is still underway to locate any other terrorists believed to be hiding in the treacherous terrain.

Senior police officers indicated that at least two terrorists, suspected to be foreigners, were initially holed up in the cordoned zone. The operation highlights the ongoing efforts to flush out militants from the Pirpanjal range, an area where security forces have recently established high-altitude jungle warfare units. This comes amid a broader crackdown across Kashmir, which has seen over 3,000 suspects arrested following recent terror incidents.