Gunfight with terrorists in Kishtwar
JAMMU: A gunfight broke out Sunday between terrorists and security forces during a cordon-and-search operation in a remote area of J&K's Kishtwar.
Officials said the operation in the Dul area of the hilly district in Jammu zone followed specific inputs and was still on.
It came a day after two army personnel died in an ongoing gunfight with Pakistan-trained terrorists in south Kashmir's Kulgam in one of the valley's longest counterterrorism operations.
'On noticing the security forces closing in, the hiding terrorists (in Kishtwar's Dul), believed to be two in number, opened fire. This was promptly retaliated by forces, leading to the gunfight,' an official said.
Reinforcements have been rushed to the area.
The Army's White Knight Corps confirmed the operation. 'Troops carrying out an intelligence-based operation established contact with terrorists in Dul. Gunfire exchanged. Operation under progress,' White Knight Corps posted on X.
Pakistan-based terrorists who infiltrate the border use Kishtwar as a corridor to get to the upper reaches of Kathua before moving to Udhampur Doda and the Kashmir valley. Kishtwar shares boundaries with Kashmir's Anantnag, as does Doda.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Europe Travel Hack That Saves You Hundreds on Trips!
davidicke.com
Undo
Earlier, on July 20, the Army had launched an operation in Hadal Gal area of Kishtwar, triggering an encounter with terrorists, but they slipped away. Prior to this, forces had combed Chatru area of Kishtwar on July 2 after inputs about hiding terrorists but they vanished into dense forests.
On May 22, an Army jawan died after a gunbattle with terrorists in Chatru. Over a month before that, three Pakistani terrorists were eliminated in an encounter in the same area on April 11 and 12.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Our relationship with both India and Pakistan is ‘good': US
America's relationship with both India and Pakistan is 'good', the US State Department has said, asserting that the diplomats are 'committed to both nations'. Speaking at a briefing on Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that the US working with both nations is good news for the region and the world, and will promote a beneficial future. 'I would say that our relationship with both nations is as it has been, which is good. And that is the benefit of having a President who knows everyone, talks to everyone, and that is how we can bring differences together in this case. So it's clear that the diplomats here are committed to both nations,' Bruce said. She was responding to a question on the possibility of increased US assistance to Islamabad in terms of arms sales following Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir's meeting with Trump, and whether this was coming at the cost of Trump's relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Referring to the May conflict between India and Pakistan, Bruce added, 'Obviously, we had an experience with Pakistan and India when there was a conflict, one that could have developed into something quite horrible.' She said that there was 'immediate concern and immediate movement' with Vice President J D Vance, President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in 'addressing the nature of what was happening….we described the nature of the phone calls, the work that we did to stop the attacks and to then bring the parties together so we could have something that was enduring.' She also claimed that top leaders in the US were involved in 'stopping that potential catastrophe.' New Delhi has been maintaining that India and Pakistan halted their military actions following direct talks between their militaries without any mediation by the US. Bruce added that the recent peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan 'follows negotiated peace arrangements between Cambodia and Thailand, Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India and Pakistan, Egypt and Ethiopia and Serbia and Kosovo.' Meanwhile, in an interview on Tuesday, Rubio said that 'credit goes to' Trump for helping bring several conflicts around the world to an end. Trump says he wants 'to be the President of peace. And so any time we see a conflict where we think we can make a difference, we get involved, and we've had good success in that regard. India-Pakistan, Thailand-Cambodia, the peace deal with Azerbaijan and Armenia, just a few days ago,' he said in an interview with 'Sid and Friends in the Morning'.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 minutes ago
- First Post
How DRDO guest house manager turned into a ‘spy' for Pakistan's ISI
Mahendra Prasad, a resident of Almora in Uttarakhand, has been arrested on charges of spying and passing sensitive information to Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI. He was employed as the manager of a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) guest house in Jaisalmer and was posted at the Pokhran Field Firing Range guest house, a high-security facility often visited by senior military officers, defence experts, and scientists Officials said his arrest came after a long period of surveillance. Image: X/ANI The manager of a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) guest house in Jaisalmer has been taken into custody for allegedly spying and sharing sensitive details with the Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI. Mahendra Prasad, who hails from Almora in Uttarakhand, was serving as the manager of the DRDO guest house in the Chandan area of Jaisalmer. He was arrested on August 4. ALSO READ | YouTuber, student and more: Who are the 'Pakistani spies' arrested in India? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Notably, he had been working at the guest house since 2008. The arrest comes after a string of espionage-related cases reported across the country this year, following the major Operation Sindoor in early May. So, who is the DRDO guest house manager now under arrest? How was he involved in spying? Here's what we know: Who is Mahendra Prasad? How was he spying for Pakistan? The accused was posted at the Pokhran Field Firing Range guest house, a high-security location regularly visited by top defence experts, scientists and senior military officers Officials said his arrest came after a long period of surveillance. An initial check of his mobile phone showed the scale of information he had shared with Pakistani intelligence operatives. Jaipur, Rajasthan: Mahendra Prasad, a DRDO contractual manager in Jaisalmer's Chandhan field firing range, was arrested for allegedly sending sensitive military videos to a Pakistani handler. Footage of missile tests, weapons, and army movements was recovered from his phone.… — IANS (@ians_india) August 13, 2025 Sources told ThePrint that for the past five years, Prasad had been sending PDF files containing details of guests staying at the facility. According to the report, these guest lists helped Pakistani operatives assess the nature of tests or projects taking place at the Pokhran range. 'Important evidence of espionage has been found from his mobile and chats," officials said, adding that the leak may have been happening for a long time. The sensitivity of the leaked material and the duration of the breach are now being examined closely. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Located about 200 kilometres from the Pakistan border in Jaisalmer district, the Pokhran range is India's main testing site for weapons and related facilities. Prasad was taken in for detailed questioning by a Joint Interrogation Committee comprising officers from intelligence agencies and the Border Security Force, a source told ThePrint. The report also said that Prasad was posted at the same DRDO guest house during Operation Sindoor, when Pakistani armed forces attacked Indian defence sites, including the Jaisalmer Air Force Station. Security agencies, including state police, remain on alert for individuals suspected of sending confidential information to Pakistani operatives through communication apps or social media. ALSO READ | Who is Pakistan's 'Madam N', who trapped Indian YouTubers arrested for spying? Espionage-related arrests post Operation Sindoor The arrest is part of a wider crackdown on espionage cases in the region. Just days earlier, another alleged Pakistani spy, Shakoor Khan, a government employee with influential contacts, was also held in Jaisalmer. Agencies said 'important evidence of espionage" was recovered from his mobile phone. Indian authorities began a nationwide operation against suspected Pakistani spies after the Pahalgam terror attack and recent military tensions between the two countries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In May this year, more than 15 people were arrested from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other states for allegedly spying for Pakistan and sharing sensitive Indian military information with Pakistani operatives. Among those arrested was **Jyoti Malhotra**, a YouTuber with thousands of followers, taken into custody by Haryana Police in Hisar. Others included Devendra Singh, a 25-year-old postgraduate student from Kaithal in Haryana, and Shahzad, a businessman from Rampur in Uttar Pradesh. Later in May, the National Investigation Agency arrested Moti Ram Jat, a jawan of the Central Reserve Police Force. Officials said he had been passing important national security information to Pakistan intelligence officers since 2023. Soon after the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7. Indian forces targeted terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, killing over 100 militants linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. Following India's strikes on these terror hubs, Pakistan carried out cross-border shelling, attempted drone attacks and engaged in air defence action. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In retaliation, Indian counterstrikes damaged Pakistan's radar systems, communication centres and airfields at 11 key locations, including the Nur Khan air base. On May 10, both countries agreed to stop all firing and military activity on land, in the air and at sea, with immediate effect. With inputs from agencies
The Hindu
2 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Delhi govt. puts brakes on fuel ban for overage vehicles amid outcry
The Delhi government will work to clean the city's air but will not allow the impounding of 'end of life' vehicles (ELVs), Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, citing public backlash and systemic challenges in enforcing the anti-pollution measure. Mr. Sirsa said he had written to the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), urging a pause on its directive that mandated fuel stations to deny petrol or diesel to ELVs from July 1 and allowed their impounding using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. 'We will clean Delhi's environment, but we will not allow Delhiites' vehicles to be impounded. This is the resolution of our Chief Minister Rekha Guptaji – her promise to the people,' he told reporters. Ms. Gupta said the government would make 'all efforts' to address problems related to the ELV ban. 'The pain of Delhi people is understandable... Some are emotionally attached to vehicles gifted by loved ones, and such less-driven cars are keepsakes,' she said. An official from Mr. Sirsa's office confirmed that ANPR-based enforcement at fuel stations would not be implemented from Friday, though the government has not issued a formal order. In his letter to the CAQM, the Minister cited technological integration issues, lack of coordination with neighbouring States, and public discontent. He said the government is considering enforcement based on actual emissions, rather than vehicle age alone. The CAQM's April 23 directive had ordered that from July 1, ELVs identified via ANPR at Delhi fuel stations be denied fuel. The same rule was to take effect in five NCR districts from November 1 and across the rest of NCR from April 1, 2026. Initially, the Delhi government supported the move, with the Transport Department and traffic police impounding ELVs from fuel stations. Mr. Sirsa had announced in March that ELVs would be barred from refuelling from April 1, but the plan was delayed due to incomplete ANPR installation. Even before CAQM's July mandate, the Transport Department had been impounding ELVs spotted on the roads. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed public opposition forced the government's U-turn. 'The BJP government was simply hiding behind a court order. But when the people united and raised their voice, it had to withdraw,' said AAP's Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj. Mr. Sirsa, meanwhile, alleged that the AAP government took money from new car dealers and installed ANPR cameras to target older vehicles. According to CAQM data, Delhi has nearly 62 lakh ELVs, while the rest of NCR has about 44 lakh. The National Green Tribunal banned ELVs across the NCR in 2015. Ms. Gupta announced that the Supreme Court had accepted the government's petition. In the National Capital Region (NCR), no immediate punitive action will be taken against owners of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, she said. 'We will continue to firmly represent the interests of the people of Delhi by actively participating in the judicial process... This decision strengthens our resolve to maintain a balance between environmental protection and public convenience as we move towards a developed Delhi,' Ms. Gupta said in a statement.
