Indian Security Forces Eliminate Three Militants in Kashmir, Ceasefire with Pakistan Holds

 Indian security forces killed three suspected militants in a fierce gunbattle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on May 11, 2025, marking a significant operation in the restive region while a fragile ceasefire with Pakistan remains intact. The encounter, one of the deadliest this year, underscores ongoing challenges in curbing militancy despite diplomatic efforts to maintain peace along the Line of Control (LoC).

The operation began when troops from the Indian Army’s 28 Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police, acting on intelligence about militant presence in the Lolab area, launched a cordon-and-search mission. The militants, hiding in a forested village, opened fire, triggering a prolonged exchange that lasted six hours. The three unidentified militants were killed, and security forces recovered two AK-47 rifles, grenades, and communication devices. No civilian or military casualties were reported, though a nearby school was temporarily evacuated. The bodies were sent for autopsy, with efforts underway to confirm their identities and affiliations, suspected to be linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based group.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of a renewed ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, reaffirmed in February 2021 and holding despite occasional violations. The LoC, dividing Kashmir since 1947, has seen reduced shelling, with only 12 ceasefire breaches in 2024 compared to over 4,000 in 2020. India’s Home Ministry reported 150 militant incidents in Kashmir in 2024, down 30% from 2023, reflecting intensified counterinsurgency operations that neutralized 80 militants. However, the region remains volatile, with 1,200 active militants, per police estimates, exploiting rugged terrain and local discontent.

Kashmir’s political landscape, altered by the 2019 revocation of Article 370, continues to fuel tensions. The recent restoration of statehood in October 2024, following elections won by the National Conference, has raised hopes for dialogue, but militancy persists. Indian authorities have tightened security, deploying 500,000 troops and enhancing intelligence networks, while Pakistan denies arming insurgents, urging UN intervention. The Kupwara operation highlights India’s zero-tolerance policy, with officials vowing to dismantle militant networks. As the ceasefire holds, both nations face pressure to pursue diplomatic channels to address Kashmir’s complex security and humanitarian challenges.