
Search for terrorists in J-K's Kishtwar enters second day
The security forces Sunday established contact with the terrorists during searches in the hilly district, and they are believed to be holed up at Dool on the Kishtwar-Paddar road.
Police sources said that searches for the terrorists, believed to be Pakistani nationals, in the area were launched following specific information.
On Sunday, the Indian Army's White Knight Corps confirmed the encounter in its post on X. It said troops, while carrying out an intelligence-based operation, had established contact with the terrorists in the early hours Sunday, and exchanged gunfire.

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The Hindu
27 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Pakistan launches new security operation against militants near Afghan border
Pakistani security forces have launched a 'targeted operation' against militants in a restive northwestern district bordering Afghanistan, displacing tens of thousands of residents who have fled to safer areas, officials said Tuesday (August 12, 2025). There was no formal announcement of the launch of the offensive in Bajaur, a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, but a government administrator, Saeed Ullah, said it was not a large-scale operation and only insurgent hideouts were being hit to avoid civilian casualties. Another government administrator, Shahhid Ali, said the number of displaced people had rapidly increased to nearly 100,000. Residents reported that security forces, backed by helicopters, struck militant hideouts in the mountainous areas along the Afghan border. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Zulfiqar Hameed said the operation was ongoing. Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, are a separate group but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war. Many TTP leaders and fighters have found sanctuary in Afghanistan and have been living there openly since the Taliban takeover, and some have crossed the border back into Bajaur and carried out attacks. Pakistan also carried out a major operation in Bajaur against Pakistani and foreign militants in 2009, displacing hundreds of thousands of people.


News18
an hour ago
- News18
Kulgam's Akhal Forest Operation Drags Into Day 12; Forces Wait Before Delivering Final Blow
The forces are relying on patience, aiming to exhaust the terrorists' supplies and morale Twelve days after security forces launched an anti-terror operation in the dense forests of Akhal in Kulgam's Dewsar area, the encounter is still ongoing, marking one of the Valley's longest continuous operations in recent memory. The operation began on August 1, following specific inputs received by the security forces indicating that a heavily armed group, believed to be Pakistani nationals, had taken shelter in the dense Akhal forest. The initial cordon and search operation led to the encounter. So far, one terrorist has been killed in the operation named 'Operation Akhal". Two brave soldiers, Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, made the supreme sacrifice, while ten other personnel have been injured. Thick Woods, Tough Terrain According to Lt Gen Devendra Pratap Pandey (Retd), former commander of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, the slow progress is deliberate. 'This is thick jungle, with heavy undergrowth. Rushing in risks more casualties," he said. 'We've already lost two brave men, and there's no need to take more hits. The aim is to eliminate the terrorists without collateral damage." He assured News18 that the terrorists would be eliminated. Experts say the terrain of the Akhal forest favours the militants, with natural caves, multiple exit routes, and a direct link to the Pir Panjal range. The group is suspected to be from The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, and is believed to possess night-vision devices, long-range rifles, and ample ammunition. The Army, J&K Police's Special Operations Group, CRPF commandos, and elite Para units have secured the area in a multi-layered cordon. Armed drones and helicopters provide surveillance and precision strike options. Instead of storming in, the forces are relying on patience, aiming to exhaust the terrorists' supplies and morale before delivering the final blow The 'Mahadev' Template The ongoing Kulgam standoff contrasts sharply with Operation Mahadev, conducted last month in the Dachigam forests. Acting on 14 days of pinpoint intelligence, security forces eliminated three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack in under an hour. That mission, involving the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police, was widely praised for its precision, coordination, and lack of collateral damage. Satellite-based tracking, human intelligence from locals, and rapid multi-agency mobilisation ensured the operation was over almost as soon as it began. Waiting for the Right Moment Sources say the Akhal mission is being guided by the same principle—strike once conditions favour the security forces. With senior officers, including the Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, Chinar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastav, and J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat, visiting the site, troops on the ground have been told there is no rush. The message is clear: patience now, a decisive finish later. view comments First Published: August 12, 2025, 21:57 IST News india Kulgam's Akhal Forest Operation Drags Into Day 12; Forces Wait Before Delivering Final Blow Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Not right to remove strays, say dog lovers; others call SC order a relief
Gurugram, A debate has started here following the Supreme Court's order to pick up stray dogs and keep them in shelter homes, with people troubled by the increasing number of dog bite cases terming the verdict as a relief while the dog lovers say it is not right to remove stray dogs at once. Not right to remove strays, say dog lovers; others call SC order a relief The dog lovers said that if the stray dogs are vaccinated properly, there will be no need to remove them. The government should focus on animal birth control so that their numbers do not increase. The government has failed to control breeding and, therefore, this decision has been taken, they alleged. According to an official report, around 700 to 800 dog bite patients are reaching the government hospital every month in Gurugram. Most of these were bitten by pet dogs. There was a shortage of rabies injections in the hospitals on several occasions, the report said. Dog bite cases are on the rise in Gurugram. Two weeks ago, a woman was attacked by a leashed Siberian Husky during an evening walk in a society located on the Golf Course road. The attack, which was captured on CCTV and went viral, showed the dog biting the woman and refusing to let her go despite attempts by the owner and bystanders to intervene. The woman sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital. In May, a Pitbull attacked a cab driver in Sector 29. On June 10, a Pakistani Gul Dong attacked a mother and daughter in Om Vihar in the Palam Vihar area. On June 27, a stray dog reached the fifth floor of the Zara Awas society in Sector 104 and attacked a 16-year-old boy there. "The number of stray dogs has increased so much that dogs are found sitting at a short distance from the houses. There is a fear of sending the child out of the house alone. "Apart from children, adults are also at great risk from these dogs. After the Supreme Court's decision, there is some relief that now we will be able to get rid of these dogs," said Kamal Goyal, a resident of Antriksh Heights society. Naveen Chandra, a resident of RD City apartments, noted that many cases of dog bites have been reported in the societies recently. Children have also been bitten by stray dogs many times, he said. "If aggressive dogs are removed, people will get relief. In the last few months, people have developed a fear of stray dogs and it is very important to remove these dogs," Chandra said. On the other hand, the dog lovers do not agree with the decision of the Supreme Court. "Work should be done for animal birth control. A drive should be conducted in Delhi-NCR to catch and vaccinate the stray dogs. If the government needs volunteers for this, it will get cooperation. Removing dogs in this manner is wrong," said a member of the NGO, Save Animal. A dog lover agreed with the apex court's decision to take better care of dogs but expressed apprehension, saying the condition of the dogs can worsen if it is not followed efficiently. "If a dog contracts a disease, it can infect the other dogs. Efforts should be made to get their vaccination done on time," he said. Following the Supreme Court order, stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, including Gurugram and Faridabad in Haryana, will be captured and relocated to shelters, with a focus on sterilisation and vaccination. The order mandates the creation of additional shelter capacity for approximately 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks. The court also emphasises that any resistance to the dog removal process would be met with strict action. A senior official of the Gurugram administration said that they have not received the orders yet but they will comply with the order. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.