3 Militants, Indian Army Officer Killed in Kashmir Clashes

Three suspected militants and an Indian Army officer were killed in two separate gunbattles in Indian-controlled Kashmir, the Indian army confirmed on Saturday.

The first incident occurred in southern Kishtwar district, where Indian Army soldiers, acting on a tip-off, laid a cordon around a forested area on Wednesday, suspecting the presence of insurgents. As troops searched the area, they encountered militants, leading to a firefight that resulted in the death of one militant by late Wednesday. Despite challenging weather conditions, the soldiers maintained the cordon, which led to further exchanges of gunfire. On Saturday, two more militants were killed in the ongoing operation, though no casualties were reported on the army's side.

In a second incident late on Friday, soldiers in the southern Akhnoor region, near the heavily militarized Line of Control (LoC) separating Indian- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, intercepted a group of militants attempting to infiltrate into Indian territory. Intense fighting broke out, during which one Indian Army officer was killed. The army stated that the militants were trying to cross into the Indian side from the Pakistan-controlled area.

No independent confirmation has been made regarding the details of either incident.

Kashmir remains a contentious region, with India and Pakistan each administering part of the territory but claiming it in full. Militants have been fighting against Indian rule in Kashmir since 1989, with many local Muslim Kashmiris supporting the rebels' calls for the region to be united under Pakistan's control or for full independence.

India maintains that the Kashmir militancy is sponsored by Pakistan, while Islamabad denies this and calls it a legitimate freedom struggle. The ongoing conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, including civilians, militants, and government forces. Tensions have remained high since 2019, when New Delhi revoked Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status, tightening its grip on the region and further escalating counterinsurgency operations.