National Security / Pakistani LeT Militant Killed in Operation Ashdar in J&K’s Budgam

Srinagar, Sep 5: Authorities have revealed that the militant eliminated during Operation Ashdar in Budgam on Friday was identified as Yasir, a Pakistani national linked to the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar‑e‑Taiba (LeT).

Confirming the development, J&K Police posted on X: “You can run but you can’t hide,” while revealing the slain militant’s identity. The encounter took place in the Ashdar Gali area of Budgam, where troops recovered an AK‑series rifle and other war‑like stores from the terrorist.

The operation was launched Thursday after specific intelligence inputs indicated the presence of militants in the forested region. Para‑commandos engaged in a firefight, later joined by Rashtriya Rifles and J&K Police, who ensured the terrorist could not escape despite darkness in the dense terrain.

Also read: Security Forces Arrest Two Terror Associates in Pulwama Forest

Budgam has long been a hotspot of militancy, witnessing numerous encounters over the past 36 years. One of the most significant operations occurred in 1995, when Pakistani commander Mast Gul and his group laid siege to the revered Chrar‑e‑Sharief shrine of Sheikh Nuruddin Wali.

To avoid civilian casualties and damage to the shrine, the Army refrained from storming the town. The standoff lasted 66 days, ending when Mast Gul set fire to the shrine, which spread to the surrounding town. Relief and rescue operations were immediately launched by the Army, J&K Police, paramilitary forces, and civil administration. Mast Gul eventually escaped to Pakistan.

That operation claimed 20 terrorists, two Army soldiers, and four civilians. The latest Budgam encounter underscores the continuing challenge of cross‑border terrorism and the determination of security forces to neutralize threats.

(IANS)