Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday identified the terrorist killed during a high-altitude encounter in Budgam on Friday as Yasir, a Pakistani national and active member of the banned Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).
Confirming the identity, the police released Yasir’s photograph, linking him directly to three major terror incidents across the region in 2024, namely the May 4 ambush on an Indian Air Force convoy in Poonch, the October 20 attack on construction workers in Sonamarg, and the October 24 ambush on an army vehicle in Bota Pathri.
Yasir was gunned down during Operation Ashdar, a joint mission launched by the Indian Army, J&K Police, and CRPF along the remote alpine ridges of the Pir Panjal range between 12,000 and 15,500 feet.
Security forces recovered an AK rifle from the scene.
{{/usCountry}}Security forces recovered an AK rifle from the scene.
{{/usCountry}}Also read: India says it will continue fight against all forms of terrorism
Search continues for suspected accomplice
A search is underway for his accomplice, Musa, who is hiding among natural caves and boulder formations in the area.
Heavy rain and fog have reduced visibility to as low as five metres in the area, but special forces and additional reinforcements have established a multi-layered cordon across both sides of the mountain range to cut off all potential escape routes.