Lashkar-e-Taiba Militant Amir Ahmad Dar Neutralised in Kulgam Operation

Indian security forces achieved a major breakthrough in Jammu & Kashmir’s anti-terror campaign by neutralising Amir Ahmad Dar, a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant accused of involvement in the April 2025 Pahalgam massacre. The joint operation, carried out by the Indian Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police, and CRPF, lasted more than 24 hours in the dense forests of Kulgam. Along with Dar, security personnel also eliminated Rehman Bhai, a Pakistani national active in the Pir Panjal region, who was operating under the same terror network.

Dar was one of the 14 prime suspects identified by security agencies for their role in the Pahalgam attack. His killing marks the eighth elimination from this wanted list, following a series of operations that have steadily dismantled Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen cells across Kashmir.

Image from Dainik Bhaskar

The Pahalgam Attack and Its Aftermath

On April 22, 2025, terrorists launched a brutal assault in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, targeting unarmed tourists. The attack claimed the lives of 26 civilians, most of them Hindu visitors, but also included a Christian tourist and a local Muslim pony operator who tried to resist the militants. The attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons including AK-47s and M4 carbines, pointing to cross-border backing and training.

Investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) later confirmed that three Pakistani terrorists, one of them a former commando of Pakistan’s Special Services Group, had executed the assault. Local support networks had provided shelter and logistical help, which exposed the deep-rooted nexus between foreign militants and local sympathisers.

In response, the Indian government launched Operation Sindoor, a series of targeted strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This was followed by Operation Mahadev in July 2025, where security forces tracked and killed the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack, Hashim Musa alias Suleman, in the Dachigam forests near Srinagar. These counter-measures demonstrated India’s determination to punish perpetrators while avoiding escalation into full-scale conflict.

Intensified Security Operations

The Kulgam encounter is part of a wider crackdown that has spanned several districts in Jammu & Kashmir since April. Security agencies have neutralised multiple high-profile militants through a mix of intelligence-led tracking and sustained search-and-cordon operations. By early August, reports indicated that 21 terrorists, both local recruits and foreign operatives, had been eliminated in six major encounters.

The Kulgam forests have remained particularly volatile. In parallel operations under Operation Guddar, security forces suffered casualties as two soldiers laid down their lives, but the resilience of the forces ensured that key militants were neutralised. The terrain, marked by thick forests and difficult accessibility, continues to test the preparedness of the Army and paramilitary forces.

Broader Implications

The elimination of Amir Ahmad Dar has both symbolic and strategic significance. Symbolically, it represents justice for the victims of the Pahalgam massacre, as one more attacker has been held accountable. Strategically, it weakens Lashkar-e-Taiba’s operational capabilities in South Kashmir, depriving the group of one of its trained local operatives who served as a bridge between Pakistani handlers and regional recruits.

Moreover, the coordinated success of operations such as Sindoor, Mahadev, and now Guddar highlights the evolving synergy between different security agencies in Kashmir. It reflects a shift from reactive counter-terror tactics to pre-emptive, intelligence-driven missions that directly target leadership and logistics networks of terror groups.

The MGMM Outlook

The elimination of Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Amir Ahmad Dar in Kulgam is a decisive moment in India’s fight against Pakistan-sponsored terror. Dar’s involvement in the April 2025 Pahalgam massacre, which targeted innocent Hindu tourists along with other civilians, highlighted the brutal intent of these terror networks. His neutralisation, along with the Pakistani militant Rehman Bhai, shows how India’s sustained intelligence-led operations are systematically dismantling the Lashkar network. It sends a strong message that those who slaughter innocents—irrespective of local or foreign origin—will not escape justice. For the families of victims, this encounter is a step closer to closure, proving that India will continue to strike at the roots of terror with precision and resolve.

What stands out is India’s evolving counter-terror strategy, where operations like Sindoor, Mahadev, and Guddar demonstrate not only military strength but also strategic coordination across agencies. By taking down masterminds, local operatives, and cross-border infiltrators alike, security forces are shrinking the space for terror in Kashmir. The killing of Dar is not just the removal of one militant; it is symbolic of India’s determination to safeguard its people and reclaim the Valley from the grip of Pakistan-backed extremists. The crackdown also reassures citizens that while Pakistan fuels bloodshed through its proxies, India remains committed to defending its sovereignty and punishing those who dare to attack its soil.

(Sources: OpIndia, Times of India, Economic Times)