Two Pakistani JeM terrorists killed in J&K's Udhampur; searches continue

Two Pakistani terrorists affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were killed during an ongoing security operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Thursday, with security forces continuing searches in the area for possible associates.

The two terrorists, identified as Saddam and Mustafa, were killed during Operation Soan, according to the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

“You Can Run But You Can't Hide! Op Soan: the two neutralised Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists have been identified as Saddam and Mustafa,” the police said in a post on X.

Security forces recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition from the slain terrorists, including an AK assault rifle with four magazines, an M4 carbine with three magazines, a Glock pistol with two magazines and four grenades.

The operation began after suspicious movement was reported in the Majalta area of Udhampur district on Wednesday evening. Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army personnel launched a joint cordon and search operation, following which contact was established with the suspected terrorists and an exchange of fire began.

“During the ensuing gunfight, two terrorists have been killed. The operation is still going on in the area,” an official said.

The initial operation involved J&K Police and the Army's Para Special Forces, with additional security personnel rushed to the area after the encounter began.

A joint team comprising the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K Police is carrying out searches in the surrounding areas.

The operation comes amid heightened security activity across the Pir Panjal region following the recent detection of an alleged overground-worker network linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Rajouri.

On September 15, Rajouri Police arrested three people in connection with an alleged terror module operating in the Pir Panjal region. The accused were identified as Zakir Hussain, Mohd Azam and Mohd Mushtaq.

Following the latest encounter, security forces have intensified area domination and searches, using sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance to check for possible movement of other terrorists.

Security measures, including heightened alert, vehicle checking and tighter cordons, remain in place along strategic routes in the Udhampur-Reasi belt.

The hilly and forested areas of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri districts have remained a particular focus for security agencies because of reports of movements by Pakistani terrorists through difficult-to-access terrain.

Anti-terror operations have continued across these areas for several months as security forces seek to disrupt infiltration routes, support networks and attempts by armed groups to establish a presence in the region.

Officials said the continuing operations are aimed not only at locating armed militants but also at preventing them from establishing safe positions from which attacks against security personnel or civilians could be planned.