J&K: Militant Killed in Budgam Encounter Identified as Pakistani National Yasir
The identification comes on the heels of an intensified counterinsurgency grid in Budgam, where security forces have been conducting a sustained joint operation since Wednesday
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday confirmed that the militant killed in the Ashdar woods of central Budgam the previous day has been identified as Yasir, a Pakistani national affiliated with the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The identification followed a multi-day counterinsurgency operation in the dense Ashdar Gali forests, an area long known for providing natural cover to infiltrating militant groups.
In a post on social media, the police announced the breakthrough with a pointed message: “You Can Run But You Can’t Hide!” The update, shared on ‘X’ and tagged to senior security and government officials including the Union Home Minister, the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, and the Indian Army, included a purported file photograph of the slain militant. Police reiterated that Yasir was a Pakistani national and an active member of the LeT, underscoring the continued presence of foreign militants in the Valley.
The identification comes on the heels of an intensified counterinsurgency grid in Budgam, where security forces have been conducting a sustained joint operation since Wednesday. The operation—led by the Indian Army, J&K Police, and the CRPF—was launched after specific intelligence inputs indicated militant movement in the rugged Ashdar Gali forests. As troops tightened the cordon and advanced through thick vegetation, they observed suspicious activity. When challenged, militants opened fire, triggering a fierce gunfight under heightened security protocols.
During the exchange, one militant was neutralised. Security forces recovered an AK-series assault rifle and what officials described as “war-like stores”, indicating that the individual was equipped for prolonged engagement. These recoveries, officials noted, often provide critical leads into militant networks, supply routes, and possible associates.
The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps confirmed the encounter, stating that vigilant troops acted swiftly on intelligence and responded decisively when fired upon. The Corps added that the search and sanitisation process remains underway, with forces combing through natural hideouts to ensure no additional threats persist in the vicinity.
Security officials in Budgam said the area continues to remain under heightened vigilance, with layered security measures preventing any escape or regrouping attempts by militants who may have been operating nearby. Investigators are analysing the recovered material to determine whether Yasir had local support or was part of a larger group attempting to infiltrate deeper into the Valley.
The latest development highlights the ongoing efforts of security forces to track and neutralise foreign militants operating in J&K. As the operation progresses, further details regarding Yasir’s movements, possible associates, and the nature of the recovered stores are expected to emerge, strengthening the broader counterinsurgency framework in the region, officials said.
