Army Launches Massive Anti‑Terror Operation in Kishtwar Ahead of Snowfall

With winter fast approaching and snowfall imminent in the high‑altitude regions of Jammu & Kashmir, the Indian Army has launched a major anti‑terror operation in the remote Keshwan–Chatroo bowl area in Kishtwar district, acting on credible intelligence about the movement of foreign‑linked militants.

Security forces, including troops from the Army’s White Knight Corps, Jammu & Kashmir Police and associated units, commenced cordon and search operations in the rugged forested terrain after receiving reliable information that two small groups of terrorists each comprising two to three operatives were active in the area. The suspects are believed to be affiliated with the Pakistan‑based militant outfit Jaish‑e‑Mohammed (JeM).

According to official sources, one of the suspected terrorist groups is considered high value and is being tracked closely, with a reward of ₹5 lakh offered for information leading to their capture or neutralization.

The Keshwan–Chatroo bowl, situated near the dense forests and precipitous slopes adjoining the Doda–Kishtwar forest belt, presents immense operational challenges. With snowfall just weeks away, the urgency of the mission has been amplified, as heavy snow can quickly isolate these areas and allow militants to evade detection.

Troops have sealed off possible escape routes, deployed aerial surveillance including drones, and are using sniffer dogs to track down the suspects amid thick undergrowth and steep rocky terrain. Alongside the main operation, the Army’s Romeo Force has conducted additional search operations at Khanetar Top along the Indo‑Pakistan border in the Poonch sector following reports of suspected militant movement, underscoring a broad‑based effort to tighten security across vulnerable stretches.

In view of potential infiltrations and the approach of winter, traffic checks have been intensified on the Pathankot‑Jammu‑Srinagar national highway through Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Udhampur districts. Police have also activated Village Defence Guards and complemented border police deployments along key posts to maintain vigilant surveillance and rapid response capability.

Officials have underscored that these proactive measures are part of a coordinated multi‑agency strategy to contain any attempt by terrorists to exploit terrain or weather conditions for movement, reinforce alertness ahead of the New Year, and protect citizens and infrastructure in the sensitive region.

Kishtwar has seen repeated instances of militant activity over the past year, including previous encounters in the Chhatru and forest belt areas involving Jaish‑e‑Mohammed operatives. Security forces have in the past employed advanced surveillance and tactical units to counter such threats in the district’s forbidding highlands.

As the current operation unfolds, authorities have reiterated their resolve to neutralize all terrorist threats and stressed the importance of public cooperation with security agencies in reporting suspicious movements or activities.