August 12, 2025

JAMMU: Drama unfolded on Sunday in the hills of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district as a fierce gunfight erupted between terrorists and security forces. The battle began during a cordon-and-search operation in the Dul area, deep in Kishtwar’s rugged terrain. Officials revealed that this intense operation was sparked by special intelligence inputs and is still ongoing. The tension came just a day after grim news from south Kashmir’s Kulgam, where two brave army personnel lost their lives in one of the valley's longest ongoing counterterrorism battles against Pakistan-trained terrorists. According to an official, “On noticing the security forces closing in, the hiding terrorists (in Kishtwar’s Dul), believed to be two in number, opened fire. This was promptly retaliated by forces, leading to the gunfight.” Reinforcements have been quickly sent to back up the troops at the front. The Army’s White Knight Corps confirmed the fierce encounter via their social media on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Troops carrying out an intelligence-based operation established contact with terrorists in Dul. Gunfire exchanged. Operation under progress.” Kishtwar plays a crucial role in the cross-border terror network. Terrorists infiltrating from Pakistan use Kishtwar as a secret passage to reach higher areas of Kathua, before sneaking into Udhampur, Doda, and even the Kashmir valley itself. It shares its borders with Kashmir’s Anantnag district, as does the neighboring Doda. This is not Kishtwar’s first close call in recent months. On July 20, the Army launched a similar operation in the Hadal Gal area, sparking a gunfight, but the terrorists slipped away. Earlier on July 2, forces combed the dense forests of Chatru area after tips about terrorists hiding there, but once again, the militants vanished. Violence has marked this region before. On May 22, an Army jawan lost his life in a fierce gunbattle in Chatru. Even earlier, on April 11 and 12, three Pakistani terrorists were killed during a tough encounter in the same area. With fresh firefights flaring up in Kishtwar, the security forces remain alert and determined to keep terror routes sealed and safe the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Tags: Jammu and kashmir, Kishtwar, Gunfight, Terrorists, Security forces, Pakistan,