Shopian, Jammu & Kashmir (National Times): In a significant counter-terrorism success, security forces neutralised three terrorists, including a local commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba/The Resistance Front (LeT/TRF), during Operation Keller in the Keller Forest area of Shopian district on May 13.
The joint operation was carried out by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) following credible intelligence about terrorist presence in the area.
High-Intensity Encounter and Major Recovery
The operation resulted in a fierce gunfight, culminating in the elimination of three heavily armed terrorists who were reportedly involved in multiple recent attacks across south Kashmir. A large cache of arms and ammunition, including AK-series rifles, grenades, and other war-like materials, was recovered from the site.
Confirming the details, the Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) posted on X: “Based on inputs from intelligence agencies about the presence of terrorists in the Keller Forest of Shopian District, a joint operation was launched on 13 May. The operation led to the neutralisation of three hardcore terrorists, including the local commander of LeT/TRF, after an intense firefight.”
Links to TRF and Pahalgam Attack
The Resistance Front (TRF), considered a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, is designated a terrorist organisation in India and believed to be orchestrated from across the border in Pakistan. The group had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, and has been a focal point in India’s counter-terror operations.
Operation Sindoor and Diplomatic Momentum
The successful Operation Keller comes shortly after Operation Sindoor, where India carried out precision strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), eliminating nearly 100 terror operatives and crippling strategic camps in Bhawalpur and Muridke.
India is now preparing to present fresh evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in supporting terror groups like TRF at the United Nations Security Council. The matter is expected to be raised before the 1267 Sanctions Committee, which oversees action against individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and ISIS under UN resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011), and 2253 (2015).
Ceasefire Understanding Amid Escalation
Amid escalating tensions following the strikes, both India and Pakistan reportedly reached a temporary understanding to cease firing and military action on May 10. This was conveyed through a call initiated by Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations to India’s DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai.
India, however, remains firm on pursuing diplomatic and military avenues to ensure zero tolerance towards cross-border terrorism, with a renewed emphasis on isolating terror-supporting entities at global forums.
