The Pir Panjal forest has proved to be a challenge for the security forces in the last few years
Srinagar:
A Pakistani terrorist was killed in the ongoing encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri after firing resumed after a night-long halt. Four Army soldiers were killed in the encounter between security forces and terrorists in Kalakot forests of Rajouri.
The terrorist has been identified as Quari, a Pakistani national who held a high-rank within the Lashkar-e-Taiba. He was sent to revive terrorism in the region. He is an expert in IEDs, operating and hiding from caves, and a trained sniper, the Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) Jammu said.
“He has been trained on Pakistan and Afghan front. He is a highly ranked terrorist leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba,” he said.
He has been active in Rajouri-Poonch along with his group for the past year and is also believed to be the mastermind of the Dangri and Kandi attacks.
The encounter started after army’s special forces and police launched a a joint operation following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the forest area.
The area was cordoned off overnight with induction of additional security forces to ensure that terrorists engaged in the encounter do not escape from the area, which is highly forested, they said.
The Pir Panjal forest in Jammu and Kashmir has proved to be a challenge for the security forces in the last few years following a series of encounters. The terrorists use the dense forests to conceal their positions, taking advantage of the topography.
Terrorists take advantage of treacherous mountains, dense jungles and the alpine forests to hide their positions.