Security forces kill five Lashkar militants in gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district

Amid concerns of a detrimental effect of the Israel-Palestine conflict on the Union Territory, security forces claimed on Thursday to have killed five Lashkar terrorists in a shootout in the Machaal sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, leading the government to issue a warning.

According to Vijay Kumar, Kashmir's assistant director of police, five Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists lost their lives in the gunfire that broke out in the Machaal area on Thursday.

According to Kumar, the search was underway and their identity was being confirmed.

A day after senior officials met at the 15 Corps headquarters in Srinagar to examine the consequences of the Middle East situation in Jammu and Kashmir, there was a significant shootout.

According to official sources, the high-profile meeting was required due to concerns over a revival of street violence and militancy.

There are fears that Pakistan might attempt to take advantage of the Middle East situation and "stir up trouble on both militancy and street violence fronts," according to a Srinagar police official, which is why the meeting is necessary.

He said, "We are leaving nothing to chance."

The major Jamia Masjid in Srinagar was locked down for two Fridays in a row in order to stop anti-Israel rallies, demonstrating the Jammu and Kashmir government's zero tolerance for such demonstrations.

Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, head of the army's Northern Command, and R.R. Bhatnagar, advisor to the lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir, presided over the meeting.

High-ranking security officials addressed actions done or needed to stop a flare-up in the Valley, according to people with knowledge of the meeting.

Since there are fewer local recruits available, there are concerns about an increase in infiltration efforts. In order to stop demonstrations in favor of the Palestinians, we are also monitoring the streets, an official said.

Despite several fatal terrorist strikes in Jammu and Kashmir this year, official statistics show that the number of new local recruitment to militancy has decreased to only 10 this year compared to 110 last year.

The official said, "The officers present at the meeting expressed cautious optimism so that developments on the Israel-Palestine front have any bearing on the situation here."

Munir Akram, Pakistan's UN representative, attempted to compare Kashmir to Palestine on Wednesday.

While asserting that "under international law, the struggle of people living under foreign occupation for self-determination and national liberation is legitimate and cannot be equated with terrorism," Akram said Pakistan rejects "terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

Deputy Permanent Representative R. Ravindra responded sharply to the statements, stating that he views them with disdain.