The Indian Army has recalibrated its strategy in the Jammu region by proactively sealing traditional infiltration routes connecting Jammu to the Kashmir Valley to neutralise an estimated 40 to 50 Pakistani terrorists operating in small groups across densely forested areas south of the Pir Panjal range.
Alongside the Amarnath yatra, a massive manhunt has been launched to dismantle terror networks in districts including Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Doda, Reasi, and Udhampur.
Sources within the security establishment revealed that the Army has effectively blocked key infiltration routes previously used by terrorists to cross from Jammu into the Kashmir Valley.
These routes, traversing rugged terrains and dense forests, have been placed under stringent surveillance with a multi-layered security grid. “We have sealed traditional infiltration routes, making it nearly impossible for terrorists to move undetected,” a senior official stated.
The operation involves heightened night patrols, drone surveillance, and deployment of elite units to dominate high-altitude areas, ensuring terrorists are denied safe havens.
Intelligence agencies claimed approximately 80 per cent of the 40 to 50 active terrorists in the region are Pakistani nationals, primarily affiliated with groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Operating in small, mobile units, these terrorists are active south of the Pir Panjal range, particularly in the heavily forested belts of Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Doda, and Udhampur. “They are being tracked relentlessly based on specific inputs about their movements. They are on the run,” a source familiar with the operations said.
The Army’s revised anti-terror strategy emphasises night operations to disrupt terrorist mobility and prevent them from regrouping. “The terrorists are finding it increasingly difficult to move, especially at night, due to our enhanced surveillance and tactical dominance,” the source added.
Sharing ground reports of a recent operation in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar, a senior officer claimed, a terrorist group, believed to be affiliated with JeM, was caught off guard by Army personnel who had already secured a strategic hilly position. In a desperate attempt to evade capture, the terrorists hurled a grenade at the troops, confirming their growing unease in operating under tight surveillance in high-altitude areas.
“This encounter demonstrates that the terrorists are under significant pressure. They are struggling to operate in areas we now dominate,” the source noted. While the terrorists are predominantly Pakistani nationals, sources clarified that no credible reports are suggesting the involvement of Pakistani regular forces alongside these groups.
“As of now, the operations are focused on neutralizing terrorist elements, and we have no evidence of Pakistani military personnel operating in the region,” the official stated.
The Indian Army’s intensified operations have significantly restricted the terrorists’ ability to maneuver. “We are tightening the noose. Adequate deployment of troops in the region has established our dominance in the upper reaches of the Jammu region. The terrorist groups are finding it increasingly difficult to move, and we will hunt them down, sooner or later,” the source asserted.