Operation Akhal enters day 9: Two soldiers killed in J&K's Kulgam; encounter still under way

NEW DELHI: Two soldiers have been killed in an ongoing encounter under Operation Akhal in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, the Army confirmed on Saturday.The operation, which began on August 1, is still under way. According to officials, two terrorists have also been killed so far, though their identities and group affiliations are yet to be confirmed.The encounter started after security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Akhal forest area of south Kashmir, following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists. An initial exchange of fire took place last Friday, after which the operation was paused for the night. The cordon was tightened, and additional reinforcements were deployed.Firing resumed the next day, leading to the killing of two terrorists. Security forces continue to engage the remaining militants believed to be hiding in the dense forest. Senior officials, including J&K Police chief Nalin Prabhat and Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, are monitoring the situation closely.Drones, helicopters, and para commandos have been deployed to track down and neutralise the remaining terrorists. Security forces have maintained a strong perimeter around the area as the operation continues.