A local Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant was killed and two policemen injured in an ongoing encounter in the Kulnar area of Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday, officials said.According to an army official, the gunfight began during a joint cordon and search operation launched by the Army, police, and paramilitary forces in the Kulnar-Bazipora area following specific intelligence inputs about militant presence.During the operation, militants hiding in the area opened fire on security forces, triggering a retaliatory firefight. One militant, identified as local resident Altaf Lalli, was killed in the exchange, while two policemen sustained injuries and were hospitalised.This was the fourth encounter reported in Jammu and Kashmir since the deadly terror attack on tourists at Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow on Tuesday, which left 26 civilians dead.Army jawan killed in encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s UdhampurThe escalation also follows India’s suspension the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and taken a series of stringent diplomatic steps against Pakistan over its alleged role in supporting cross-border terrorism.The decision was taken during a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, and attended by Union home minister Amit Shah. India placed the treaty in abeyance, saying it will remain suspended until Pakistan permanently halts support for terror groups targeting India.India also shut down the integrated Attari Check Post, declared several Pakistani High Commission officials as persona non grata, and revoked all visas issued to Pakistani nationals under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. The Pakistani nationals have been given 48 hours to leave the country.Pakistan, in a sharp reaction, rejected the suspension of the treaty and warned that any attempt to block or divert the Indus waters would be treated as an “act of war.”The World Bank-brokered treaty governs the sharing of the Indus river system between the two countries. Under its provisions, India controls the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—while Pakistan receives most of the waters from the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. The rivers are crucial for the water security of both nations.(With inputs from Fayaz Wani)Kashmir Valley shuts down after 35 years in protest against Pahalgam terror attack
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