One terrorist was killed in a joint operation by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the remote Ashdar Gali area of Budgam on September 4.
The operation, codenamed Operation ASHDAR, was launched after specific intelligence inputs about suspected terrorist movement through the Pir Panjal terrain. Security forces said troops noticed suspicious activity and, after being challenged, the terrorists opened fire, triggering an exchange in which one terrorist was killed. An AK-series rifle and other war-like stores were recovered.
The identity of the slain terrorist has not yet been established, while a search remains underway for at least one more suspected terrorist believed to be hiding in the area. Kashmir Zone IGP Sujit Kumar also visited the vicinity of the operation site to review the situation.
Intelligence Led Operation In Budgam
The operation unfolded in the densely forested, high-altitude Ashdar Gali area, where difficult terrain has made the security forces’ search particularly challenging. According to officials, the operation followed intelligence regarding the movement of a suspected group from Pakherpora in neighbouring Pulwama towards Yousmarg in Budgam.
The Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said the joint team comprising the Army, J&K Police and CRPF detected suspicious movement during the search. When the suspected terrorists were challenged, they opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange. One terrorist was subsequently killed and an AK rifle along with other war-like stores was recovered. The Chinar Corps said in its official update: “Search operation is in progress.”
The operation also highlights the challenges of conducting counter-terror operations in the Pir Panjal landscape. Reports indicate that the encounter site is deep inside a remote alpine area and troops had to undertake a prolonged trek to reach it.
One report cited officials saying the location required nearly 10 hours of trekking from the Doodhpathri side. The difficult geography, dense forest cover and multiple mountain routes have complicated the search for the remaining suspected terrorist and prompted security forces to maintain a wider cordon around the area.
Search Continues After Encounter
While one terrorist has been killed, officials have stressed that the operation is still underway. Security forces are continuing combing operations in the surrounding forests to locate another suspected terrorist believed to be hiding in the area. The Indian Express reported that forces believed one to two terrorists could still be trapped, although the exact number has not been officially confirmed.
The identity of the terrorist killed in the encounter has also not been established. Importantly, there has been no official confirmation so far about his identity, nationality or affiliation with any particular terrorist organisation. Some reports have described him as a suspected Pakistani national, but this remains an attribution rather than an officially established fact and should therefore be treated cautiously.
Kashmir Zone IGP Sujit Kumar visited the area near the operation site on September 4 and reviewed the ongoing security arrangements. His visit came as forces continued searches and maintained heightened vigilance in the region.
The encounter is also significant because it follows what several reports described as a lull of several months in major militant activity in the Kashmir Valley. The Indian Express described it as the second gunfight between security forces and terrorists in the Valley this year.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Budgam operation once again underlines the difficult security environment in Jammu and Kashmir, where security personnel operate in challenging terrain while trying to prevent armed groups from establishing a foothold. At the same time, every such operation has consequences beyond the immediate encounter for families, local communities, tourism and the wider sense of security in the region.
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