The Indian Army has significantly expanded its counter-terrorism operations across the Kishtwar and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir, pressing ahead through freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall to pursue Pakistani terrorists seeking refuge in the region’s higher mountain reaches, defence sources said.
According to assessments by multiple intelligence agencies, around 30 to 35 Pakistani terrorists are currently active in the Jammu region. Security officials say sustained counter-terror operations over recent months have pushed these groups out of populated and lower-altitude areas, forcing them deeper into remote middle- and high-mountain zones that are largely uninhabited during winter.
Traditionally, the onset of Chillai Kalan, the 40-day harshest phase of winter from December 21 to January 31, has brought a temporary lull in militant activity as snow blocks routes and isolates mountainous terrain. This year, however, the Army has adopted what officials describe as a decisive shift in approach, abandoning the seasonal slowdown in favour of a proactive winter posture.
Army units have established temporary bases and surveillance posts deep inside snowbound areas, while patrols are regularly traversing high-altitude ridgelines, valleys and dense forest belts despite sub-zero temperatures and limited visibility. The objective, sources said, is to deny terrorists any sanctuary and prevent them from exploiting the harsh season for concealment.
Intelligence inputs suggest that the remaining militants are seeking temporary winter hideouts to evade detection and avoid direct confrontation with security forces. With their local support networks and overground workers sharply diminished, some are believed to be coercing or threatening villagers for shelter and food. Officials say drying local support and constant vigilance in the lower reaches have left these groups increasingly isolated, restricting their ability to regroup or plan coordinated attacks.
A defining feature of this winter’s counter-terror campaign has been an integrated, multi-agency approach. The Army is leading synchronised operations involving the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Central Reserve Police Force, Special Operations Group units, civil administration officials, forest guards and village defence guards. This coordination enables real-time intelligence sharing, efficient use of resources and sharper execution on the ground.
Intelligence gathered from various agencies is synthesised to build precise situational assessments of militant movements and hideout patterns. Once verified, joint operations are launched in a coordinated manner, minimising overlap and ensuring rapid, targeted action. Sources said this synergy has significantly improved response times, allowing forces to act as soon as actionable intelligence emerges.
The operational focus this winter is twofold: eliminating remaining terrorist pockets in known areas and containing militants within inhospitable high-altitude zones. By confining them to these regions, security forces aim to disrupt logistics, cut communication channels and prevent any movement back into populated belts.
Concurrent operations are being carried out across valleys, mid-altitude areas and high ridges to maintain overlapping control and deny potential corridors of movement. Each clearance operation is followed by sustained surveillance to ensure areas remain secure, forming what officials describe as a surveillance-sweep-surveillance cycle that underpins the Army’s evolving winter doctrine.
Specially trained winter warfare sub-units have been deployed in key sectors to support the surge. These troops, skilled in high-altitude survival, snow navigation, avalanche response and winter combat, have played a crucial role in maintaining operational effectiveness during the harsh conditions.
Modern technology has also emerged as a force multiplier. Drone-based reconnaissance, ground sensors, surveillance radars and heat-detection systems are being used to monitor movement and identify potential routes used by militants. Integrated into the Army’s information network, these tools allow continuous monitoring and faster decision-making even in extreme weather.
Operational strategies are being constantly refined based on real-time intelligence, weather patterns and terrain assessments. Security officials say that even during the peak of Chillai Kalan, when most activity in the mountains comes to a halt, the sustained presence and vigilance of Indian forces are aimed at ensuring that winter no longer provides militants a window of respite.
