Lashkar-e-Taiba Commander Yasir Killed in Budgam Encounter

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have neutralized a high-ranking Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, identified as Yasir, during a targeted counter-terror operation in the upper reaches of the Budgam district. The encounter, which concluded on September 5, 2026, followed an intelligence-led search operation in the mountainous Yusmarg region, marking a significant tactical success for the joint security forces involved.

The operation, designated as Operation Ashdar, was conducted by the 53 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Forces. Security agencies had been tracking the movements of the Pakistani national for several months, suspecting his involvement in a series of high-profile terror attacks across the region throughout 2024. His death is expected to disrupt the operational capabilities of the LeT module he was associated with in the Kashmir valley.

The gunfight occurred in the rugged terrain of the Pir Panjal mountain range, where security forces had been monitoring the movements of terrorists since September 1. According to official reports, the operation was hampered by severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and visibility reduced to barely five meters, which complicated the engagement with the militants.

Security forces successfully cornered the group in the Yusmarg-Pulwama belt, leading to a direct exchange of fire on September 3. Following the neutralization of Yasir, authorities recovered an AK-series rifle from the encounter site. The operation remains active as security forces continue to search for another operative, identified as Musa, who is believed to be hiding within the natural caves and boulder-strewn landscape at altitudes ranging between 12,000 and 15,500 feet.

Yasir was a Pakistani national who had previously been affiliated with a module led by commander Junai Ahmed Bhat. Security agencies have linked him to at least three major terror incidents that occurred in 2024. Investigators are currently probing his specific role in the May 4, 2024, ambush of an Indian Air Force convoy near Shahsitar in Poonch’s Surankote area, an attack that resulted in the death of one IAF personnel and left four others injured.

Beyond the Poonch ambush, Yasir was also suspected of orchestrating attacks near Sonamarg and Gulmarg. Specifically, he was under investigation for his alleged role in the October 20, 2024, attack near Gangangir in Sonamarg, which claimed the lives of seven individuals, including a local doctor. Four days later, he was reportedly involved in an assault on an Army vehicle at Bota Pathri near Gulmarg, which resulted in the deaths of three soldiers and two civilian porters.

Following the successful elimination of the commander, security agencies are conducting a comprehensive audit of his terror network. The investigation is focused on mapping his links with other active LeT operatives and determining the extent of his involvement in planning and facilitating recent terror activities in the region. This intelligence gathering is considered vital for preventing future security breaches in the sensitive border areas.

Yasir had reportedly split from the larger Sulaiman Musa group—also known as Hashim Moosa—nearly a year prior to his death. Sulaiman Musa, a notorious mastermind behind the 2025 Pahalgham attack, was himself killed by security forces in the Dachigam forest area of Srinagar several months after that incident. The death of Yasir represents the latest in a series of targeted operations aimed at dismantling the leadership structure of foreign-backed terror groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police confirmed the identity of the slain militant and issued a firm statement regarding the ongoing counter-terror efforts. In a post on X, the police declared, “You Can Run But You Can't Hide!” emphasizing the persistent and intelligence-driven nature of their current operations against militant groups in the mountainous regions.

As the search for remaining operatives continues, the focus remains on securing the high-altitude passes that have historically been used as infiltration routes. The success of Operation Ashdar underscores the effectiveness of the current intelligence-based approach, which relies on real-time tracking of militant movements in difficult terrain. Security agencies have not yet disclosed the full extent of the recovered intelligence, but they anticipate that the data gathered from Yasir’s network will provide critical leads for upcoming counter-insurgency operations.