New Delhi, Dec 28 (UNI) Indian security agencies have assessed that around 30 to 35 Pakistani terrorists are currently active in the Jammu region, with recent intelligence indicating a strategic shift in their movement patterns as counter-terror operations tighten the noose.
According to inputs gathered over the past few months, these groups have retreated into higher and middle mountain ranges, that are largely uninhabited and difficult to access. They are believed to be establishing temporary winter hideouts there to avoid detection and evade direct engagement with security forces.
Reports indicate that these remnants of terror groups are attempting to coerce or threaten local villagers for shelter and food supplies, though their support among locals and overground workers has sharply declined. The drying local support and continuous security vigilance at lower altitudes have forced them into isolation, further restricting their ability to regroup or plan coordinated attacks.
As the bone-chilling winter descends upon the Himalayas and the 40-day period of Chillai Kalan grips Jammu and Kashmir, sources in the defence establishment have said that the Indian Army has intensified its counter-terrorism operations across the Kishtwar and Doda districts.
Army units have expanded their operational reach into higher and snowbound areas to pursue and neutralise Pakistani terrorists attempting to exploit the harsh season for concealment.
Traditionally, the onset of Chillai Kalan; the harshest phase of Kashmir’s winter spanning from December 21 to January 31 ushers in a temporary lull in terrorist activities, as communication routes close and heavy snowfall isolates mountain regions. However, this winter has marked a decisive shift in the operational approach of the Indian Army and other security forces. Instead of reducing activities, sources have said that the Army has adopted a proactive winter posture, establishing temporary bases and surveillance posts deep within snow-covered areas to maintain unbroken pressure on possible terrorist hideouts.
Operating in sub-zero temperatures with limited visibility, Army patrols have been regularly traversing high-altitude ridgelines, valleys, and forested areas to deny terrorists any sanctuary.
The shift according to experts signifies an evolution in counter-terrorism tactics, underlining both the Army’s adaptability and its resolve to maintain operational momentum irrespective of the season or terrain.
According to the sources, the Indian Army is leading a synchronised effort involving multiple security and law enforcement agencies, including the Civil Administration, Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Special Operations Group (SOG), Forest Guards, and Village Defence Guards (VDGs).
The principal focus for the Army and other forces this winter is twofold: to eliminate remaining terrorist pockets within known areas and to ensure that terrorists remain confined to inhospitable higher reaches. This containment strategy not only prevents terrorists from infiltrating or regrouping in populated belts but also significantly disrupts their logistics and communication channels, reducing any operational capability.
Security forces have launched concurrent operations along valleys, mid-altitude regions, and high ridges to maintain overlapping control and deny any potential movement corridor. Each operation is followed by sustained surveillance, ensuring that areas once cleared remain under watch. Commanders regularly review deployment plans, rotate patrolling and surveillance grids, and reposition troops to adapt swiftly to emerging threats.
Sources have emphasised that the winter operations this season are guided by a clear doctrinal approach: Surveillance to Swift Operations and then Back to Surveillance. The philosophy emphasises an unbroken cycle of monitoring, quick response, and sustained watchfulness, minimising the chances of terrorist regrouping.
