Kishtwar Encounter Underway; Two Terrorists Suspected to be Trapped: Police

On Sunday morning, two suspected Pakistani terrorists were believed to be hiding in Dool, along the Kishtwar–Paddar road in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. Acting on specific intelligence, security forces launched a search operation in the area ahead of Independence Day celebrations. During the operation, they established contact with the militants, triggering an ongoing encounter.

Police sources confirmed that searches had been initiated following credible information about militant presence. The suspects are believed to be Pakistani nationals. The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps confirmed the development in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). According to the statement, troops conducting an intelligence-based operation made contact with terrorists in Dool in the early hours of August 10, 2025, and exchanged gunfire. The Army emphasized that the operation is still in progress.

The encounter is part of a larger series of counter-terror operations launched in the Union Territory in the run-up to Independence Day, when security is typically heightened due to potential threats. In recent days, Jammu and Kashmir Police, in coordination with security forces, have intensified their crackdown on militants and their support networks. They have searched more than three dozen houses belonging to militants currently based in Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), as well as overground workers (OGWs) associated with various terrorist outfits.

A major security sweep took place on Saturday in Kishtwar district, where multiple police teams carried out simultaneous raids at 26 locations linked to terrorists. Among the targets was the home of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Mohammad Amin Bhat, also known as Jehangir Saroori. Saroori is considered one of the longest-surviving militants in Jammu and Kashmir and has been active for decades.

The latest Kishtwar encounter unfolds alongside another significant anti-terror operation in Kulgam, South Kashmir. This operation, which began on August 1, 2025, has been ongoing for nearly two weeks, making it one of the longest anti-militancy campaigns in the Valley in recent years. Security forces have been conducting extensive search and cordon exercises in the forests surrounding the Akhal area of Kulgam.

So far, the Kulgam operation has resulted in the deaths of two Indian Army soldiers and one terrorist. The prolonged nature of the mission indicates that militants may be using dense forest terrain and possibly underground hideouts to evade capture, prompting sustained security measures.

Both the Kishtwar and Kulgam operations highlight the escalation in counter-terrorism efforts across Jammu and Kashmir in the days leading up to Independence Day. Security agencies remain on high alert, not only to neutralize active threats but also to dismantle networks providing logistical and local support to militants.

These back-to-back operations underscore the multi-pronged strategy being implemented: engaging militants in direct encounters, preventing cross-border infiltration, and targeting support structures within the region. The combined pressure from raids, searches, and combat operations reflects the authorities’ commitment to tighten security and minimize the risk of militant activity during a sensitive national period.