A suspected Pakistani militant was killed during a fresh encounter in the snow-laden heights of Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday evening. The clash, the fifth in the Chatroo belt over the past 18 days, took place under challenging winter conditions. Security forces, including the Counter-Insurgency Force Delta, White Knight Corps, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF, re-established contact with the militants around 5:45 pm in Dichhar. The joint operation, named Trashi-I, targets a group linked to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit. Officials confirmed that one terrorist was neutralised, while operations continue in the dense Sanjalar-Dichhar forests of the Chingam region.

The Chatroo belt has emerged as a hub of persistent anti-terror operations, with heavy snowfall of over two feet adding to the difficulty. Despite the harsh conditions, Army and police units have maintained pressure on infiltrators hiding in rugged terrain. The campaign began on 18 January in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora, where a gunfight killed one paratrooper and injured seven soldiers, though the militants initially escaped. Forces regrouped on 22 January, engaging the group again, but the terrorists evaded capture. Further encounters on 26 and 31 January forced the militants deeper into the wilderness, with no decisive success until now.

The latest operation highlights Indian security forces’ determination in high-altitude winter warfare and disrupts JeM’s attempts to establish a presence in Kishtwar, a strategically sensitive border district. JeM, a designated terrorist organisation, has a history of carrying out fidayeen-style attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, often infiltrating via the Pir Panjal range using seasonal snow cover.

Trashi-I demonstrates coordinated efforts between Army units, local police, and paramilitary forces, employing intelligence-driven patrols, drones, and thermal imaging to track militants in sub-zero temperatures and low visibility. While at least one terrorist has been killed, more may remain trapped. Local residents have aided operations by providing crucial intelligence, with no civilian casualties reported.

This encounter underscores India’s zero-tolerance approach toward Pakistan-backed terrorism and reflects heightened vigilance following recent infiltrations. Reinforcements are on standby to prevent escape, and success here could be pivotal in clearing remaining JeM militants from the region ahead of spring, when infiltration risks typically increase.