12 days on, Kathua op becomes one of J&K’s longest anti-terror missions

The ongoing ‘search and eliminate’ operation launched by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir has become one of the longest counter-terror operations in recent years. The operation began on March 23, when Pakistani terrorists were first spotted in the Hiranagar sector near the International Border (IB) in Kathua district. Over the past 12 days, multiple security forces and intelligence agencies have been working together to track and eliminate three remaining terrorists from a group of five.

Two terrorists were killed last Thursday in Ghati Juthana. The Army, J&K Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and National Security Guard (NSG) are coordinating efforts to detect and neutralise the militants. The militants are being tracked using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), sniffer dogs and other surveillance equipment.

Since March 23, three encounters have taken place in Kathua. The first gunfight erupted at Sanyal village, Hiranagar, after a woman spotted at least five terrorists and alerted the police. A second encounter occurred in Ghati Juthana on Thursday, where four policemen lost their lives and two terrorists were gunned down. On Monday evening, another encounter broke out near a temple in Panjtirthi, but the remaining three terrorists managed to escape.

Security forces, having already lost four personnel, are exercising caution as the terrorists may have set up ambushes.

J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat confirmed that the same group of ultras was first seen in Hiranagar. Security forces have laid a cordon, but the militants continue to shift their positions frequently to avoid detection in the dense forests. The rugged terrain and natural caves in the region provide them with cover, making it difficult for forces to advance rapidly.

A similar prolonged operation took place in Bhata Dhurian forest, Poonch, in October 2021, lasting nearly a month. Nine Army personnel were killed by terrorists who used the difficult topography and thick vegetation to their advantage, launching ambushes at different locations.

Security forces detained multiple alleged terror associates during that operation to gather intelligence on militant movements.

The Army has also conducted several ‘search and eliminate’ operations following multiple ambushes on security personnel in Poonch and Kathua in 2023 and 2024. However, those operations lasted only three to four days. With the search continuing in Kathua, security forces remain on high alert, determined to track down the remaining terrorists.