An ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the Nader village of Tral in Awantipora, Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), resulted in the death of one terrorist on Thursday.
Official sources confirmed the fatality in the encounter between joint security forces and terrorists in the Tral sub-division.
The Srinagar-based 15 Corps of the Indian Army posted on X, stating that the operation was initiated on May 15, 2025, based on specific intelligence. A cordon and search operation was conducted by the Indian Army, J&K Police, and Srinagar Sector CRPF in Nader, Tral, Awantipora. According to the Army, vigilant troops observed suspicious activity, and upon being challenged, terrorists responded with heavy fire, leading to a fierce gunfight that is currently underway.
The J&K Police also confirmed the encounter on X, stating that it had commenced in the Nader, Tral area of Awantipora, with police and security forces engaged in the operation. Further details are awaited.
Security forces had cordoned off Nader village in Tral tehsil following specific intelligence inputs to conduct searches. The police reported that an exchange of gunfire began as security forces approached the hiding terrorists and is ongoing.
This marks the second encounter between security forces and terrorists this week. On May 13, three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists, including their operational chief Shahid Kuttay, were killed in a gunfight in the Shopian district.
Notably, this incident occurred after an understanding for a ceasefire between India and Pakistan was announced on May 10, effective at 5 p.m. Just two hours after the ceasefire, terrorists fired at a sentry post outside the White Knight Corps headquarters in the Nagrota area of Jammu district.
India has asserted that any act of terror within its borders will be considered an act of war. This statement follows a terror attack on April 22 in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, where 26 innocent people, including 25 tourists and a local, were killed. Security forces attributed this attack to LeT terrorists, which led to India conducting precision strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation.
Despite agreeing to the ceasefire, India has clarified that the Indus Waters Treaty will remain in abeyance, and trade relations with Pakistan will not be restored.
Furthermore, Pakistani targeting of civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border has resulted in the destruction of over 200 houses and shops, forcing hundreds of border residents to seek refuge in safer areas. These families are yet to return to their homes as security forces continue to defuse unexploded Pakistani mortar shells.
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