Terrorists trapped in Kishtwar encounter

In yet another encounter between security forces and terrorists in Kishtwar district, a group of hardcore militants is believed to be trapped in the mountainous Dul forest area.

Contact with the terrorists was established following specific intelligence inputs regarding their presence in the region. This is the latest in a series of encounters that have occurred in the district in recent months. Security forces, along with various intelligence agencies including Army Intelligence, are closely monitoring the movement of militants in the region.

In a statement, the Nagrota-based White Knight Corps said: “Alert Army troops, while carrying out an intelligence-based operation, have established contact with terrorists in the general area of Dul in Kishtwar in the early hours of August 10. Gunfire was exchanged. The operation is currently in progress.”

Sources revealed that the group may be led by a Pakistani terrorist highly trained in jungle warfare and equipped with offline mobile applications to aid movement through dense forest terrain.

Officials also suspect the presence of multiple terrorist groups, each comprising 2–3 members, moving continuously through the mountainous region. Security agencies are particularly concerned due to the strategic importance of Kishtwar, which houses several hydropower projects believed to be potential targets in light of rising tensions following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by Pakistan.

According to intelligence sources, recent tactical shifts have given security forces an upper hand in tracking and monitoring militant movements. “Earlier, during search operations, terrorists would often ambush security personnel. Now, the ultras are on the run, and security forces are aware of their exact locations,” a source said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have also intensified pressure on terror infrastructure and its local support networks. On Saturday, security teams raided 26 locations in Kishtwar district, while 15 more locations were raided a day earlier in neighboring Doda district. The raids targeted premises linked to terrorist operatives, including those who have crossed over to Pakistan and continue to operate from there.

Kishtwar has witnessed a spike in terrorist activity in recent months. On July 20, a gunfight occurred in the Hadal Gal area; earlier, on July 2, an encounter took place in Kanzal Mandu, and another was reported on May 22 in Chhatru.

The terrorists who have infiltrated from across the border are reportedly armed with M-4 carbines and other advanced weaponry.

In April this year, three terrorists were killed by security forces in Kishtwar, and a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered.