LeT commander among 4 terrorists killed in LoC landmine blast in Poonch
Synopsis
A top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander and three other terrorists were killed instantly when they walked into the Indian Army's forward minefield while attempting to cross the LoC in Poonch's Krishna Ghati Sector. All four were residents of PoK's Poonch district — a stark indicator of how cross-border infiltration networks continue to operate from Pakistani territory, and how the Army's layered anti-infiltration grid is proving decisive.
Key Takeaways
Four terrorists , including top LeT commander Mohammad Faizan , were killed in a landmine blast on the LoC in Poonch, J&K on 12 October 2025 .
The other three deceased were identified as Mohammad Ishtiyaq , Mohammad Waqas , and Mohammad Asim — all residents of PoK's Poonch district .
The blast occurred in the Satwal-Naki/Nangi Takri area of Krishna Ghati Sector , a known infiltration corridor.
The group triggered the Indian Army's forward minefield , part of its anti-infiltration obstacle grid.
Days earlier, the Army's Bomb Disposal Squad had defused five weathered landmines near the border fence in neighbouring Mendhar sector .
Security forces have raised the region to high alert , with ambush parties and patrols deployed to rule out coordinated breaches.
Four terrorists, including a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, were killed after triggering a landmine along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday, 12 October 2025, while attempting to infiltrate into Indian territory, officials confirmed. The blast, which killed all four on the spot, was triggered in the Nangi Takri area of the Krishna Ghati (KG) Sector during the late afternoon.
Who the Terrorists Were
The four deceased have been identified as Mohammad Faizan, a top LeT commander, along with Mohammad Ishtiyaq, Mohammad Waqas, and Mohammad Asim. All four were residents of Mandla, Madarpur, in Hajira tehsil of Poonch district in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), according to officials.
How the Blast Unfolded
The group was attempting to cross the LoC through the Satwal-Naki/Nangi Takri area — a traditionally known infiltration corridor used by cross-border operatives. Instead of breaching the perimeter, the four walked directly into a heavily fortified forward minefield that forms a core component of the Indian Army's anti-infiltration obstacle grid. The powerful explosion killed all four instantly, officials said.
Notably, recent heavy rainfall in the region has caused older or deeply buried anti-personnel mines to surface or shift unexpectedly — a factor that may have compounded the operatives' miscalculation. Just days before this incident, the Army's Bomb Disposal Squad had safely located and defused five weathered landmines exposed near the border fence in the neighbouring Mendhar sector.
Security Response and Alert Status
Following the blast, security forces placed the region on high alert. Ambush parties and border patrols have been deployed extensively to investigate the perimeter and rule out any coordinated infiltration attempt. Officials emphasised that forward areas remain heavily fortified with landmines and layered surveillance.
The Poonch-Rajouri Corridor: A Persistent Flashpoint
The Poonch and Rajouri districts — collectively the region south of the Pir Panjal mountain range — have historically served as active infiltration corridors. Dense forests, rugged ridges, and seasonal streams shape traditional cross-border paths, where operatives cross from launch pads in PoK to reach the higher ridges of the Pir Panjal range. From there, they either establish transit hideouts in local forests or trek northward through alpine passes toward the Kashmir Valley.
Security agencies classify these corridors into several key zones, all under heightened surveillance. This latest incident underscores the persistent threat profile of the region and the continued pressure that the Army's anti-infiltration grid places on cross-border operatives. With surveillance intensified and additional patrols deployed, security forces are expected to maintain a heightened posture along the LoC in the coming weeks.
Point of View
A pattern that diplomatic channels have repeatedly failed to disrupt. The Indian Army's anti-infiltration obstacle grid is doing the work that negotiations have not, but the Poonch-Rajouri corridor's persistent activity suggests that the pressure on infiltration routes has not yet translated into strategic deterrence. The rainfall-induced mine surfacing — highlighted by the Mendhar defusal days earlier — also points to a maintenance challenge in the obstacle grid that, if unaddressed, could create unpredictable outcomes for both sides of the LoC.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the four terrorists killed in the Poonch landmine blast?
The four were identified as top LeT commander Mohammad Faizan, Mohammad Ishtiyaq, Mohammad Waqas, and Mohammad Asim — all residents of Mandla, Madarpur, in Hajira tehsil of PoK's Poonch district. They were killed instantly when they triggered a landmine while attempting to infiltrate into Poonch, J&K on 12 October 2025.
Where exactly did the landmine blast occur?
The blast occurred in the Satwal-Naki/Nangi Takri area of the Krishna Ghati (KG) Sector along the Line of Control in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. This area is a traditionally known infiltration route used by cross-border operatives.
Why is the Poonch-Rajouri corridor a persistent infiltration hotspot?
The Poonch and Rajouri districts, south of the Pir Panjal mountain range, offer dense forests, rugged ridges, and seasonal streams that historically shaped cross-border infiltration paths. Operatives use these routes from PoK launch pads to reach the Pir Panjal ridgeline and then move toward the Kashmir Valley.
What is the Indian Army's anti-infiltration obstacle grid?
It is a layered defensive system of minefields, surveillance equipment, and physical barriers deployed along the LoC to prevent cross-border infiltration. The terrorists killed on 12 October walked directly into this grid's forward minefield in the Krishna Ghati Sector.
What security measures followed the blast?
Security forces placed the region on high alert immediately after the incident. Ambush parties and border patrols were deployed heavily to investigate the perimeter and rule out any coordinated infiltration attempt. Officials confirmed forward areas remain heavily fortified.
