Ongoing Anti-Terror Operation in Kulgam: Two Soldiers Lose Life as Firefight Reaches its Ninth Day
In the heart of Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, the forests of Akhal have been the scene of a significant anti-terror operation since August 1, 2025. Operation Akhal, as it has come to be known, has been one of the longest recent operations in the region, spanning beyond 11 days [1][3][4].
The joint forces of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF have been working tirelessly to flush out entrenched terrorists based on intelligence inputs about their presence in the dense, challenging forest terrain [1][3][4].
Tactics
The operation started as a cordon-and-search in the heavily forested and alpine terrain, which complicated troop movements and prolonged the encounter [1][3][4]. Security forces employed joint combing operations, intermittent and intense firefights, and retaliatory calibrated fire against militants who opened fire first [1][2]. The use of drones was reported to drop explosives on target areas to assist in clearing militants from dense forest cover [4]. High troop deployment was necessary to maintain tight cordons during combing and prevent escape from the rugged terrain [4].
Challenges
The tough, dense alpine forests and mountainous terrain have slowed progress and increased risks, causing casualties among security personnel [3][4]. Militants were well-entrenched and tactically positioned, resulting in sustained firefights over many days and making it difficult to fully locate and neutralize them [1][4]. The prolonged nature of the operation has led to casualties, with at least two soldiers and several security personnel killed, alongside two militants [1][3]. Operations had to continue with caution due to threats of intermittent firing and the possibility of further militants hiding deep within the forests [2][3].
Outcomes
Two militants were reportedly killed during the operation; one identified as a local Lashkar-e-Taiba commander. One other militant was injured but not confirmed killed [2][5]. Two Indian soldiers, Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, have lost their lives during the operation [2]. Despite the prolonged operation, some reports noted no recent sightings of terrorists towards the later days, indicating either successful flushing out or dispersal [4]. Top police and army officials visited the site multiple times to assess and support the ongoing operation, underscoring its importance and difficulty [3].
In summary, Operation Akhal (August 2025) in Kulgam's Akhal forests stands out as a protracted, complex anti-terror operation combining large-scale joint force tactics with drone support, challenged by dense terrain and entrenched militants, resulting in militant neutralizations but at a significant cost to security forces [1][2][3][4][5]. The use of drones to drop precision explosives marks a shift in tactics, reducing troop exposure to ambush fire. The operation aims to disrupt terrorist supply chains and recruitment pipelines. The Akhal forests, strategically located near infiltration routes from across the Line of Control, will continue to be a focal point in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
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