Kishtwar Search Operation: Security Forces Intensify Hunt for Hizbul Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Dense Forests
On July 21, 2025, security forces began a never-ending search for a group of terrorists who were hiding in the dense Khankoo forest in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. The search has turned into a high-stakes manhunt. The Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and paramilitary forces launched Operation CHERJI on Sunday afternoon in the Cherji area between Dachhan and Nagseni. The operation resulted in a brief but fierce gunfight with suspected Hizbul Mujahideen operatives, including two high-value targets with a combined reward of ₹30 lakhs. This operation demonstrates India’s unwavering commitment to fighting terrorism as drones, helicopters, and sniffer dogs search the difficult terrain. However, will the forces be able to outmaneuver the elusive militants in the harsh wilderness of Kishtwar?
Following accurate intelligence regarding terrorist movements in the densely forested area, the operation got underway on July 20, 2025. Security forces and the terrorists, who were estimated to be two to three in number, engaged in a heavy firefight during the first encounter. Reinforcements tightened the cordon around the Khankoo forest as the gunfight resumed with renewed vigor on Monday morning, despite a pause in late Sunday. The use of cutting-edge technology, such as drones and helicopters, attempts to get over the mountains and thick undergrowth that give terrorists natural cover. Lt. Col. Suneel Bartwal, PRO Defence Jammu Division, emphasized the intensity of the operation by saying, “The area is under a tight security cordon, and we remain committed to neutralizing the threat.”
This most recent operation comes after a series of violent events in Kishtwar, such as the tragic deaths of two Village Defence Guards (VDGs), Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar, in Kuntwara forest on November 7, 2024, and the related encounter that claimed the life of Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar of 2 Para Special Forces on November 10, 2024. The guerrilla-trained terrorists, who are thought to be affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen, use the area’s steep slopes and dense jungles to avoid capture. The operation may become more complex if new infiltrators from the Jaish-e-Mohammad group cross from the Basantgarh belt of Udhampur, according to sources.
The Kishtwar operation, which is being watched by the country, is a reflection of larger issues in Jammu and Kashmir, where security forces have stepped up their anti-terror efforts in the wake of attacks like the 26-person Pahalgam incident in April 2025. The Army’s elite Para Commandos, J&K Police’s Special Operations Group, and CRPF teams are still put to the test by the harsh terrain and unfavorable weather. The operation is a crucial test of India’s counterterrorism capabilities, with senior officers supervising strategy and escape routes being sealed. Will justice be served by this manhunt, or will the terrorists manage to evade detection in the harsh forests of Kishtwar? The result may influence the region’s security dynamics for several months to come.
