Indian Army's anti-terror operation leads to gunfight in Jammu & Kashmir's Kishtwar

Srinagar: A brief exchange of fire broke out between security forces and terrorists on Sunday in the Hadal Gal area of Jammu and Kashmir’s hilly Kishtwar district during an anti-terror operation, officials said.

The gunfight erupted during a cordon and search operation (CASO) launched jointly by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the densely forested Khankoo area, located between the Dachhan and Nagseni areas of Kishtwar, following specific inputs about terrorist movement, they said.

“OP CHERJI, Based on specific inputs an operation was launched by #IndianArmy in the Hadal Gal area of #Kishtwar Sector. Contact has been established with #terrorists. The #operation is currently in progress,” Army’s White Knight Corps posted on X.

Although there were no immediate reports of casualties or injuries on either side, the encounter indicates the possible presence of heavily armed foreign terrorists in the higher reaches of Kishtwar—a region that has witnessed a spike in terrorist sightings and movement in recent months.

Additional reinforcements from nearby army units have been rushed to the area, reports said. A wider search operation is underway to track down the fleeing terrorists, who are believed to be hiding in the thick forest cover.

Officials said the operation could stretch into the night or even the coming days due to the treacherous terrain and dense vegetation.

The operation marks another escalation in counter-terror measures in Chenab Valley of Jammu region which has recently seen increased security activity amid fears of a renewed terror push. This is the second such encounter with terrorists this month, following an Army operation conducted with help from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at Kishtwar's Kanzal Mandu on July 2.

Despite attempts to neutralise the terrorists—who were believed to be affiliated with Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)—they reportedly evaded the anti-terrorist operation.