3 LeT Terrorists Killed: Is This Just the Beginning of India’s New War Doctrine?

New Delhi: Three terrorists from the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were eliminated in an encounter with security personnel in the Keller area of Shopian district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday.

As per official reports, the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police jointly initiated the operation after receiving specific intelligence inputs about the movement of terrorists in the Shukroo Keller area. When the security forces commenced the cordon and search operation, terrorists started firing, leading to an intense gunfight.

As they engaged in the firefight, the three terrorists were gunned down. Although the identities of the murdered terrorists remain unestablished, the officials had verified their belonging to the LeT.

The move follows rising tensions between Pakistan and India over a fatal terrorist attack on April 22 at Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which had taken several lives. The incident resulted in an increased level of cross-border hostility.

Pakistan responded by conducting drone strikes in several Indian states, such as Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. While Indian air defense systems successfully intercepted the intrusions, the incident gave rise to apprehensions of an all-out conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

On Friday, the two countries released a statement announcing a deal to impose an immediate ceasefire to defuse tensions. The ceasefire was reportedly broken by Pakistan in Srinagar and other areas along their border within hours of the announcement.

In direct retaliation to recent events, the Indian government has made a serious warning, stating any subsequent terrorist attack on Indian territory will be considered an “act of war.”

“Any act of terror in India in the future will be treated as an act of war against the nation and dealt with accordingly,” a senior government official said, indicating a sharp change in India’s national security strategy and rules of engagement with Pakistan-based terror groups.

Security personnel are still on high alert throughout Jammu and Kashmir, with operations stepped up to eliminate the remaining terrorist presence.

Also read: India and Pakistan Agree to Immediate Ceasefire: Trump Claims Credit