Winters in Kashmir, and more so during the December 21 to January 31 period, locally referred to as ‘Chillai Kalan’, have traditionally been periods of lull both for the militants as well as the Indian Army, with heavy snow and biting cold curbing normal counter-insurgency operations.
But this time, the Army has gone in for a major tactical change in order to capitalise on the ongoing success and maintain the momentum against the Pakistan-trained operatives operating in the three defined geographies that determine the nature and character of Army operations—in the valley and the hinterland, the mid-altitude regions, and the snow-capped high ridges in Doda and Kistwar.
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The central aspects of this ‘winter offensive’ are to enhance intelligence gathering efforts through human, technical and electronic intelligence, develop the information, club the actionable ones separately before launching specialist soldiers—experts in high-altitude and mountain warfare—to zero in for the kill.
No barracks for these soldiers this winter; on the contrary, they will be establishing temporary bases and surveillance posts deep within snow-covered areas to maintain relentless pressure on possible terrorist hideouts.
Ideated to ‘eliminate’ and deny any sort of safe sanctuary to the terrorists by “sweeping” operations, the key feature of this strategy is to maintain surveillance. The approach has been labelled as a “surveillance-sweep-surveillance” operational doctrine.
A senior Indian Army source said on condition of anonymity, “Each operation is followed by sustained surveillance, ensuring that areas once cleared remain under watch. This ‘surveillance-sweep-surveillance’ cycle forms the cornerstone of the Army’s new winter doctrine, balancing aggressive field operations with steady technological oversight.”
The change has also been brought upon by an assessment that there are about 30 to 35 Pakistani terrorists currently in the Jammu region.
The source pointed out, “These Pakistani terrorist groups, finding themselves cornered by successful counter-terror operations, have shifted deeper into higher and middle mountain reaches of the region; areas now devoid of habitation. These terrorists are believed to be seeking temporary winter hideouts to evade detection and avoid direct confrontation with security troops.”
The winter offensive has a lot of promise also because of two aspects—use of technology and an integrated approach by meticulously involving the other security forces, including the state police and the paramilitary.
The source said, “From drone-based reconnaissance to ground sensors and surveillance radars, a wide array of tools is being leveraged to detect movement, track heat signatures, and pinpoint possible movement routes.”
“Thermal imaging devices and unmanned aerial systems have proved invaluable for night operations and in terrain where conventional scouting is hazardous. This infusion of technology, combined with the Army’s deep familiarity with the geography, allows for quick adaptation to evolving ground realities and ensures that no zone remains unmonitored.”
At the same time, the battle for the hearts and minds is set to continue with a well-planned human dimension positioned as a doubled-up effort to strengthen trust and reinforce the message that peace and stability remain shared goals across security forces and citizens alike.