Security Forces Foil Major Terror Plot in Poonch, Recover IEDs and Communication Equipment

 In a significant breakthrough amid heightened tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian security forces uncovered and dismantled a terrorist hideout in the Poonch district, thwarting what officials believe was a planned attack. The operation comes in the aftermath of a devastating assault in Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead, including foreign nationals.

According to reports, a joint operation by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday evening led to the discovery of the hideout in the dense forests of Hari Marote village in the Surankot sector. Citing sources in the Poonch Police, news agency ANI reported the recovery of five Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), two radio sets, various communication devices, three blankets, and other incriminating materials. The IEDs were ingeniously concealed in household items, including tiffin boxes and steel buckets, in an apparent attempt to evade detection.

Security officials have since launched extensive counter-terrorism operations across the Kashmir Valley, targeting suspected safehouses, razing illegal shelters used by militants, and detaining hundreds of overground workers and terror associates for interrogation. These actions form part of an intensified crackdown on terror networks following the April 22 attack.

In a separate development, the Indian Army confirmed yet another incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC). “During the night of 04–05 May 2025, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor in J&K. Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately,” read an official statement. This marks the eleventh consecutive day of ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

The April 22 massacre in Pahalgam, attributed to terrorists linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, marked one of the deadliest attacks in recent years. Gunmen indiscriminately opened fire on a group of tourists, killing 26 and injuring several others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a known proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility but later withdrew its statement following international condemnation.

The attack has led to a rapid deterioration in diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan. New Delhi responded with a series of strong punitive actions, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, scaling down Islamabad’s diplomatic presence, closing Indian airspace to Pakistani airlines, and expelling Pakistan’s military attachés. In a retaliatory move, Islamabad suspended the bilateral Shimla Agreement, escalating tensions further.

As the security situation in the region remains fragile, Indian forces continue to maintain heightened alert levels across the Union Territory, determined to dismantle remaining terror infrastructure and prevent further loss of life.