Pakistani militant commander killed in Budgam encounter in Kashmir

A Pakistani militant commander was eliminated during a firefight with security forces in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The slain militant has been identified as Mousa, a commander with the Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. The encounter took place following intelligence inputs about militant presence in the area. Security forces cordoned off the region and initiated a search operation after gunfire erupted between troops and the militants. The identification of the slain militant as a senior commander of the outfit adds significance to the operation, as such figures are often involved in coordinating militant activities across the region. The security forces have maintained an intensified presence in Budgam, a district in central Kashmir that has been a flashpoint for militant activity in recent years. Officials stated that operations in the sector would continue as part of efforts to maintain security in the region.