Now Reading: Operation Trashi-I: Security Forces Intensify Hunt for Terrorists in Kishtwar Forests
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Operation Trashi-I: Security Forces Intensify Hunt for Terrorists in Kishtwar Forests
Operation Trashi-I: Security Forces Intensify Hunt for Terrorists in Kishtwar Forests
New Delhi, january 19, 2026: Following a night-long pause due to treacherous terrain and plummeting temperatures, security forces on Monday morning resumed a massive search-and-cordon operation in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. The mission, codenamed Operation Trashi-I, aims to track down and neutralize a group of foreign terrorists believed to be hiding in the dense forest belts of the Chatroo sector.
High-Altitude Gunfight and Injuries
The operation escalated into a fierce encounter on Sunday, January 18, 2026, when joint teams of the Indian Army’s White Knight Corps and the Jammu and Kashmir Police established contact with the terrorists in the Sonnar village area, near Mandral-Singhpora.
During the initial contact, the terrorists—positioned at a tactical advantage on higher ground—launched a sudden assault using assault rifles and grenades.
- Casualties: Eight security personnel sustained injuries, primarily from grenade splinters and the difficult climb.
- Evacuation: Local villagers assisted in moving the injured soldiers through the thick vegetation to the nearest road, from where they were airlifted to a military hospital for treatment.
Advanced Surveillance and Tactical Reinforcements
With the first light of dawn today, the operation saw a significant surge in intensity. The security grid has been tightened to ensure no escape routes remain open for the insurgents.
| Key Assets Deployed | Purpose |
| Army Helicopters | Aerial reconnaissance and monitoring of mountain ridges. |
| High-Tech Drones | Real-time surveillance of deep ravines and inaccessible hideouts. |
| Sniffer Dogs | Tracking movement patterns through dense forest trails. |
| Elite Reinforcements | Additional Para-commandos and CRPF units have been inducted. |
Officials believe the trapped group consists of two to three foreign terrorists affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Intelligence inputs suggest these groups have been active in the Doda-Kishtwar forest circuit for some time, utilizing the “natural fortress” of the Pir Panjal range.
Strategic Context: Republic Day Security
This encounter is the third major confrontation in the Jammu region this year, following recent gunfights in the Kathua district on January 7 and 13. Security agencies have been on high alert across the Union Territory following intelligence warnings of infiltration attempts ahead of Republic Day celebrations.
The White Knight Corps stated that the troops are operating under “challenging terrain and conditions,” emphasizing their resolve to flush out the remnants of terror modules in the region.
