Two Terrorists Killed, Soldier Injured in Ongoing Gunfight in J&K's Kishtwar

Jammu: Two terrorists were killed and a soldier injured in an ongoing gunfight between security forces and militants in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials reported on Thursday.

The operation, involving Para (Special Forces) unit, 11 Rashtriya Rifles, 7 Assam Rifles, and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K Police, was launched in the Singhpora-Chhatroo area following intelligence inputs about the presence of three to four terrorists linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

"The encounter began in the morning and is still underway," said officials.

Security forces had cordoned off the area after receiving specific information about the terrorist group. As troops moved in, the militants opened fire, triggering a gunfight.

The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), confirmed the ongoing engagement, stating:

“Contact has been established with terrorists during a joint operation with @JmuKmrPolice at Chhatru, Kishtwar. Additional troops have been inducted and operations are in progress to neutralize the terrorists.”
The operation has been named ‘Op Trashi’.

Security forces have intensified anti-terror operations across Jammu and Kashmir in recent weeks, targeting terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs), and sympathisers.

The crackdown follows the April 22 massacre in Pahalgam, where Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists targeted tourists based on religion, killing 26 civilians — including 25 tourists and a local resident — in Baisaran Meadow.

The attack drew nationwide outrage and led to precision strikes by Indian forces on terror infrastructure in Muridke near Lahore, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

In response, Pakistan launched heavy mortar shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in J&K, destroying over 200 homes and shops, and displacing hundreds of border residents who fled to safer areas. Many have yet to return, as unexploded ordnance continues to be neutralized in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla, and Kupwara districts.

Although a ceasefire was agreed upon by the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan on June 12, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has made it clear that India will uphold the ceasefire only if Pakistan prevents terrorist activity from its territory. He called this a “probation period” for Pakistan.

With inputs from IANS