Budgam Encounter: One Terrorist Killed In Ashdar Operation, Search Continues

On Friday, one terrorist was killed during an ongoing security operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, with the search for other threats continuing in the area.

The operation, codenamed ‘Ashdar’, began on Thursday evening in the Ashdar Gali area after security forces launched a joint cordon and search operation based on specific intelligence inputs.

The Army said troops noticed suspicious movement and challenged the individuals, following which terrorists opened fire.

Security personnel responded and engaged the terrorists in a gunfight, killing one of them. The Army recovered an AK rifle along with other war-like stores from the site.

The Chinar Corps said the operation involved the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Troops resumed the search operation with first light on Friday and continued to comb the area.

OP ASHDAR, Budgam

Based on specific intelligence input, a Joint Search Operation was launched by #IndianArmy, @JmuKmrPolice and @crpf_srinagar in general area Ashdar Gali, Budgam.

Vigilant troops observed suspicious activity and upon being challenged, terrorists opened fire,…

— Chinar Corps🍁 – Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) September 4, 2026

The Budgam operation has brought attention to the district’s history of major counter-terrorism operations.

In 1995, security forces conducted a prolonged operation in Chrar-e-Sharief after Pakistani terrorist commander Mast Gul and his associates took control of the town and laid siege to the shrine of Sufi saint Sheikh Nuruddin Wali.

The Army surrounded the area and blocked exit routes but did not enter the town to reduce the risk to civilians and prevent damage to the shrine.

The standoff lasted 66 days before Mast Gul set fire to the shrine, with the blaze spreading to nearby houses. Mast Gul later escaped to Pakistan as rescue efforts began.

The 1995 operation left 20 terrorists, two Army personnel and four civilians dead.

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