JAMMU: For the security forces operating in the Union Territory (UT0 of J&K, February 11 proved to be a day like no other as they managed to kill three terrorists. Believed to be Pakistani nationals, the neutralised terrorists were cadres of Jaish e Mohammad (JeM) terrorist group set up by Maulana Masood Azhar.
The terrorists were killed in an encounter in Passerkut of the Chhatru area in the Kishtwar district. It is possible that a couple of more terrorists were still around in this difficult terrain where they have operated for a long time.
The bodies of all three slain terrorists, besides some weapons, AK-47 rifles, have been seized from the encounter site.
Operation, christened as Trashi-I, as per officials, was continuing to hunt down the remaining terrorist(s). In recent encounters, most of the terrorists were found carrying sophisticated M4 rifles, considered much more advanced than AK-47s.
No official details have been issued regarding the identity of the slain terrorists so far. It was being said that these terrorists belonged to a group which worked in coordination with the top Jaish commander, Saifullah. This commander, a Pakistani national who is wanted for involvement in several encounters since 2021, was among those neutralised.
The encounter began after the security forces established contact with the hiding terrorists during a joint operation launched on the basis of specific intelligence inputs on Sunday (February 22) morning. Pinpointing accurate intelligence regarding the hideout of terrorists with the security forces helped avoid their own casualties.
Incidentally, the way the encounter unfolded indicates that terrorists are mostly in hiding, perhaps because of change in tactics after Operation Sindoor of May last year. There have been some incidents of firing on security forces but these were not initiated by terrorists. They were the result of terrorists trying to break the cordon and escape, not frontal assaults on security forces.
Security forces came under heavy fire from terrorists hiding in a temporary hiding place in the treacherous terrain. The fire was returned, leading to an encounter which ultimately culminated in the killing of three terrorists. Initially, there were reports of two terrorists being killed by the afternoon, and the news regarding the elimination of the third terrorist was confirmed some hours later in the evening.
The Army’s White Knight Corps (16 Corps, one of the most active in Northern Command these days) confirmed the neutralisation of all three terrorists. “Troops of White Knight Corps, along with Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF, in a joint operation, established contact with terrorists in the general area of Passerkut, Kishtwar. Firefight is on. Troops have cordoned off the area. Operation continues,’’ White Knight Corps said in a post around 11 am.
Encounter Details
In an updated version regarding the encounter, around 2:45 pm, it confirmed the killing of two terrorists in the operation. “Pursuant to credible intelligence inputs collated from JKP, IB and own intelligence sources, a deliberate joint operation was launched in the Kishtwar region under Operation Trashi-I to track and neutralise terrorists operating in the area. Following a successful contact established earlier, troops of CIF Delta of White Knight Corps, in close coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF, re-engaged the terrorists today at approximately 11 am in challenging terrain. Displaying tactical precision, seamless synergy and resolute aggression, troops dominated the encounter site, wherein two terrorists were successfully neutralised. War-like stores, including 2 AK-47 rifles, have also been recovered,’’ it posted.
At 6 pm, it was confirmed that the elimination of the third terrorist had also occurred. In continued operations under Op Trashi-I in Kishtwar, troops of CIF (D) of White Knight Corps, in coordination with JKP and CRPF, have neutralised the third terrorist. The remains and the weapon of the terrorist have been recovered,’’ its post on Xí read. Significantly, it added that the hunt would continue, and that those seeking to undermine stability and disturb peace would find no sanctuary.
Past Encounters in February
Earlier on February 4, 2026, the security forces had killed one terrorist in the ongoing “Operation-Trashi-I’’ in the Dichhar area of Chhatru in Kishtwar district. It was believed that Jaish commander Saifullah was initially there in the cordon but managed to escape. Following it, the Police also put up his posters in several key locations, including those in the neighbouring Doda district.
On February 14, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Doda Sandeep Mehta had stated that the posters of Jaish Commander Saifullah, the Pakistani terrorist on the run, were put up as he was trying to flee away after the Chhatru encounter.
“For the past one and a half month, intensive Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) have been underway in the Chhatru area of Kishtwar district. During one such search and counter terrorist operation, one terrorist was also killed. However, the main Jaish commander, Saifullah, is still alive and is trying to flee,’’ Mehta had said. Incidentally, Kishtwar was earlier part of the larger Doda district, and the higher reaches of the two districts are contiguous.
His (Saifullah) posters, showing him with and without a beard, have been circulated for the general public’s information. What we have heard is that he is trying to escape posing as a woman using burqa,’’ Mehta had said. Intensified Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) continued in Chhatru, Singhpora and adjoining areas of Kishtwar district to hunt down hiding terrorists from January 18 onwards.
On that day, a gunfight ensued with the security forces coming under heavy fire and grenade attack by a group of three or four terrorists during a CASO in the Son Nar forest stretch of Chhatru. It had left several security personnel, at least eight soldiers, sustained injuries in the grenade attack by the terrorists. Out of the injured soldiers, one paratrooper, Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces, had succumbed to his injuries later.
A well-equipped terrorist hideout was busted the next day in the vicinity of the encounter site. This hideout had cooking gas, food, and bedding, indicating that the terrorists had a support network. A relentless hunt for terrorists on the run had led to several contacts between security forces and the terrorists. However, terrorists had managed to breach the cordon as they never tried to take on security forces, with their priority a breach of the cordon instead.
Role of Army Dog Tyson
In this encounter, Army Dog ‘Tyson’, attached to the 2 Para (Special Forces) canine unit, played a pivotal role in the counter-terrorism operation. During the joint operation, Tyson crawled into a terrorist hideout carved into rugged terrain, prompting the hiding terrorists to open fire. Despite being shot in the leg, Tyson continued to advance, helping security forces pinpoint the exact location of the terrorists. It is believed that his courageous actions were critical in the successful neutralisation of the hideout.
Tyson’s bravery highlights the critical role of trained army dogs in modern counter-terror operations — where their instincts and courage often make the difference between success and failure. A major difficulty faced by trained dogs is that the trails go “cold’’ very fast in this terrain covered with snow. The trained canines can be immensely useful in the coming summer, according to the security forces.
