How Indian Army’s winter warfare sub-units are hunting down Pakistani terrorists in Jammu one after the other

The Indian Army has intensified its counter-terrorism operations across the Kishtwar and Doda districts in Jammu and Kashmir to track down and neutralise Pakistani terrorists attempting to use the harsh winter for cover.

The Army has reportedly deployed specially trained winter warfare sub-units across several key sectors. Traditionally, the onset of the 40-day ‘Chillai Kalan’—the harshest phase of winter in the Kashmir Valley from 21 December to 31 January—reports a drop in terrorist activities, as communication routes close and mountains become isolated due to heavy snowfall. However, this winter has marked a decisive shift in the operational approach of the Army and other security forces, news agency PTI reported.

According to assessments by various intelligence agencies, 30–35 Pakistani terrorists remain in the Jammu region. Braving the bone-chilling cold, the Indian Army has reportedly established temporary bases and surveillance posts deep within snow-capped areas to maintain pressure on possible terrorist hideouts, the report said. Usually, soldiers are asked to reduce their activities during this period.

Each operation by the security forces in the Union Territory is followed by sustained surveillance, ensuring that areas once cleared remain under watch, the PTI report said, quoting defence sources. This surveillance-sweep-surveillance cycle forms the cornerstone of the Army's new winter doctrine, balancing aggressive field operations with steady technological oversight.

Indian Army’s winter warfare sub-units

The winter warfare units specialise in snow combat, high-altitude survival, snow navigation, and avalanche response, among other skills. They have been supported by drone-based reconnaissance, ground sensors, and surveillance radars. They are capable of detecting movement, tracking heat signatures, and pinpointing possible movement routes in the snowy mountains of Jammu.

These systems, integrated into the Army's overall information network, enable continuous monitoring and rapid decision-making even under adverse conditions.

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 weather or terrain. Inputs gathered over the past few months suggest that these Pakistani terrorist groups, finding themselves cornered by successful counter-terror operations, have shifted deeper into the higher and middle-mountain reaches of the region—areas now devoid of habitation, they said.

These terrorists are believed to be seeking temporary winter hideouts to evade detection and avoid direct confrontation with the security forces. Reports indicate that these remnants of terror groups are attempting to coerce or threaten local villagers for shelter and food supplies, even though support among locals and overground workers has sharply declined.

The drying up of local support and continuous security vigilance in lower altitudes has forced them into isolation, further restricting their ability to regroup or plan coordinated attacks, the sources said.

According to sources, the Army has intensified its counter-terrorism operations across the Kishtwar and Doda districts. Undeterred by freezing temperatures, treacherous terrain, and heavy snowfall, Army units have expanded their operational reach into higher, snowbound areas to pursue and neutralise Pakistani terrorists attempting to exploit the harsh season for concealment, sources said.

A defining feature of this year's counter-terror strategy has been the integrated approach to operations. The Army is leading a synchronised effort involving multiple security and law enforcement agencies, including the civil administration, J&K Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Special Operations Group (SOG), forest guards, and Village Defence Guards (VDGs), another source said.

Modus operandi

This inter-agency cooperation ensures seamless sharing of intelligence, resource optimisation, and sharper operational execution, the source added. Intelligence from multiple agencies is carefully synthesised to draw precise situational pictures of terrorist movements and hideout patterns.

Once intelligence is verified, coordinated joint operations are planned and launched, minimising overlaps and ensuring maximum impact with tactical precision, defence sources said. The synergy among ground units and intelligence frameworks has enhanced response times, enabling security forces to act the moment actionable information surfaces, they added.

The principal focus of 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 the inhospitable higher reaches, a source said. This containment strategy not only prevents terrorists from infiltrating or regrouping in populated belts but also significantly disrupts their logistics and communication channels, reducing their operational capability, the source added.