Terrorism Monitor - Jammu & Kashmir (01st-15th April, 2025)

Ceasefire Violations:

• On April 1, 2025, a mine blast occurred in the Nangi Tikri area of the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, along the Line of Control (LoC) at around 1.30 pm. This incident was followed by unprovoked firing from Pakistani troops, constituting a ceasefire violation and the Indian Army responded in retaliation. The abovementioned sector is manned by Nangi Tikri battalion, under the aegis of the Krishna-Ghati Brigade. The operation was initiated from two Pakistani forward posts—Mirza AD and Mirza Mor—under the command of the 642 Mujahid Battalion of the 02 PoK Brigade. Sources indicated that the Pakistani Army's actions were an attempt to facilitate the infiltration of militants into Indian territory. Infiltrators from the Pakistani side, believed to be Army regulars and militants, crossed the LoC apparently to plant some IEDs. However, one of the intruders accidentally stepped on a landmine, setting off an explosion. This was soon followed by two additional blasts. Sources indicated that the subsequent explosions were likely caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) the intruders were carrying, which may have detonated as a result of the initial landmine blast, potentially leading to casualties among them. According to sources, after the explosions, Pakistani troops opened fire towards the Indian side, reportedly to assist the intruders in exiting the minefield and retreating across the Line of Control (LoC). In response, the Indian Army returned fire. Following the April 1 ceasefire violation, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) investigations revealed images of injured Pakistani soldiers. Furthermore, visuals depicting the last rites of Pakistani Army personnel surfaced online, suggesting that the Pakistani side incurred fatalities during the exchange. Investigations suggest that four to five Pakistani Army personnel were injured during the exchange, though official confirmation is pending. Two casualties on the Pakistani side were identified Naseer Ahmad S/o Musadiq Hussain R/o Nakyal Kotli POJK, Nazakat Hussain R/o: Haveli, POJK. Others remain unidentified. Since the beginning of 2025, there has been a rise in incidents of cross-border violence along the Line of Control (LoC) from the Pakistani side. On February 7, a similar infiltration attempt was made when five Pakistani militants were killed after triggering landmines while trying to cross the Line of Control (LoC) in the Battal sector of Poonch. On February 11, an IED blast, suspected to be planted by militants, killed two Indian soldiers, including Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi, and injured another in the Laleali area of Akhnoor sector. This incident followed a series of sniper attacks from across the border, including one on February 10 in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri and another on February 14 in the Keri area of Akhnoor, both injuring Indian soldiers.

Credits: War & Gore

• On April 2, 2025, Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) again in the Krishna Ghati (KG) sector of Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. This marked the second such incident in three days. Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing, which was met with strong retaliation from the Indian Army.
• On April 7, 2025, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) at Langoor Post in the Digwar sector of Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army responded promptly to the unprovoked firing. Subsequently, a search operation was initiated to ensure that no infiltration occurred under the cover of the ceasefire violation. This incident coincided with Union Home Minister Amit Shah's ongoing three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. The violation marks the second such occurrence in recent days; a similar incident had been reported on April 1 in the Krishna Ghati sector, where Pakistani troops engaged in unprovoked firing following a mine explosion.?
• On the night of April 11, 2025, Subedar Kuldeep Chand of the 9 Punjab Regiment was killed during a counter-infiltration operation in the Keri Battal area of Sunderbani, Akhnoor sector, Jammu and Kashmir. He was leading his team when they detected movement of heavily armed infiltrators near a stream in the dense forest. A fierce exchange of fire ensued, during which Subedar Chand sustained critical injuries and later succumbed to them.

IED/Explosion Incidents:

• On April 9, 2025, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir averted a major tragedy by detecting and defusing an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Hafrada village, located in the Villgam area of Kupwara district. The IED, weighing approximately 12 kilograms, was discovered during a routine patrol by a joint team of the Indian Army's Chinar Corps and the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The device was found along the Wadder-Haphruda road, a route frequently used by both security personnel and civilians. Upon identification, the area was promptly cordoned off, and a Bomb Disposal Squad was called to the scene. The squad successfully neutralized the IED without causing any damage, thereby preventing potential harm to the local population and security forces.

Encounters:

• On April 9, 2025, an encounter occurred between security forces and terrorists in Jopher village, located in the Ramnagar area of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir. During a search operation by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security forces, contact was established with two to three terrorists, who were currently believed to be trapped at the site. The militants reportedly managed to flee, taking advantage of the challenging terrain, which includes high mountains and a river, making the operation difficult for the security forces. On Wednesday night, three terrorists reportedly entered the home of a local resident, Rashpal, in Basantgarh, staying for nearly three and a half hours. This occurred while a large search operation was underway in nearby Ramnagar, where an encounter had broken out the previous evening. Rashpal described the terrorists as young men, around 25 years old, dressed in black and armed—one with a basic weapon and another with a scoped firearm, possibly an M4. They spoke in Urdu but understood local Dogri. They used Rashpal's phone to make a WhatsApp audio call in an unidentified language before confiscating the device, returning only the SIM card. The terrorists took some food, along with Rashpal's trousers, bag, and umbrella, and asked about routes in all directions. They identified themselves as militants and warned him not to tell anyone. The house is 15-20 kilometers from the encounter site, and it’s unclear whether the group was the same as the one involved in the Ramnagar clash. Security forces have launched a search operation in the area.
• On April 9, 2025, security forces launched a joint operation in the Chhatru forest area of Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, based on specific intelligence inputs. The operation, conducted under challenging weather conditions, resulted in the elimination of three Kashmir-Tigers terrorists over several days. Unconfirmed reports state that JeM/KT terrorists Basha, Farman and Mavi were killed during the encounter. During the operation, security forces recovered a significant cache of weapons, including an AK rifle, an M4 rifle, 11 magazines, 65 M4 bullets, and 56 AK-47 bullets, along with caps, medicines, first aid material, and socks from the three terrorists. The operations highlighted seamless coordination between the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, particularly the Special Operations Group (SOG). After initial contact on April 9, special forces were rapidly deployed with support from the Indian Air Force. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones, and night vision devices were used for real-time surveillance to prevent the terrorists from escaping the area. Several media outlets have reported that KT commander Saifullah was killed in the encounter; however, this information is incorrect, as he successfully managed to escape.

Search Operations:

• On April 1, 2025, Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) initiated extensive joint search operations across five areas in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. These operations targeted both hinterland and border regions, including Behramgalla-Chatran Sailan, Kala Jhoola, Nakka Nar Forest in Gursai, Mastandara Jabri, and the Chajala-Seagi areas of Mankote.
• On April 2, 2025, security forces launched a comprehensive search operation in the Siya Badrai area of Sunderbani, Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir. Personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Indian Army conducted extensive searches, including combing forested areas and inspecting vacant houses belonging to nomadic residents. The operation was part of a broader anti-militancy effort extending from Kathua to Rajouri, aimed at countering militant activities in the region. It is important to note that Siya Badrai area borders Reasi district, where militants had attacked a bus returning from Shiv Khori in June 2024.
• On April 2, 2025, four suspected terrorists entered a residence in Khabbal village, Majalta block, Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir. They held the family hostage, demanding food and clothing, and took a mobile phone before fleeing the scene. This prompted security forces to launch a comprehensive search operation in the area. The area is characterized by dense forests and challenging terrain. Security forces had been deployed in the region for several days, and additional reinforcements were sent to assist in the operation.
• Intelligence inputs indicate that the suspected infiltrators, assessed to have crossed over from across the border, were initially observed in the forested areas of Saniyal village in the Hiranagar sector on 23 March. The group is believed to be the same that evaded contact following an encounter with security forces in the Kathua district on 1 April.
• On April 3, 2025, security forces launched a joint search operation in the Pathankot-Kathua border region after three suspected terrorists were sighted near Matti village in Punjab. Three suspects, accompanied by a Gujjar, were seen near the Ravi River in Matti village, Sujanpur (Pathankot), carrying a heavy bag, having allegedly crossed from Jammu into Punjab and asking locals for directions to the main road. The operation, involving the Pathankot Police and Special Operations Group (SOG), was initiated following local reports of suspicious movements in the area. This development is part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts in the region, which have included previous encounters and search operations in nearby areas such as Sanyal and Ding Amb in Kathua district. In a similar incident the previous week, five suspects had been seen in Kidiyan Gandyal, following which the Pathankot district police, along with the SOG and drone team, launched a search operation in the Ravi River forests near the villages of Matti and Dung. On March 25, security personnel observed suspicious movements near the Ravi River. In response, the Pathankot police intensified day-and-night operations along the area bordering Kathua district and the Madhopur-Lakhanpur interstate border. Authorities intensified surveillance along roads connecting Jammu and Punjab and urged the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual activities. Notably, similar incidents had occurred over the past year. On June 26, two armed individuals were sighted, and on July 24, a resident of Phangtoli near the Mamoon Cantonment reported three men dressed in black, carrying bags and behaving suspiciously while requesting food. Later, in October 2024, authorities recovered a Pakistani boat from the Tarna River, a tributary of the Ravi, near Dhinda village in Pathankot's Bamiyal sector.
• On April 4, 2025, security forces intensified search operations in the Samba sector along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. This action followed an earlier encounter in the Sufian area of Kathua district, where four Jammu and Kashmir police personnel lost their lives, and two terrorists were neutralised. In a related development, the Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire to thwart an intrusion attempt near Khora Post in the Samba sector on March 31, 2025. Upon observing suspicious movement, BSF personnel engaged the infiltrators, who then retreated back to Pakistan. Subsequently, the BSF and police launched a joint search operation in the area to ensure no breach had occurred.
• On April 7, 2025, a large-scale search operation was initiated in the Bhatadhudia area of Mendhar subdivision, Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation was launched following reports of suspicious movement in the region. Under the directives of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Poonch, security forces commenced the operation early in the morning.
• On April 14, 2025, a joint operation named "Operation Lasana" was launched by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in Lasana village, Surankote, Poonch district, following intelligence inputs about terrorist presence in the area. During the operation, an exchange of fire occurred between the security forces and the terrorists, resulting in injuries to one Army personnel, who was subsequently hospitalised. In response to the encounter, additional troops, including the Army's Romeo Force, were deployed, and the area was cordoned off to prevent the terrorists from escaping. Comprehensive search operations are ongoing, utilizing advanced tracking methods and dog squads to locate the militants suspected to be hiding in the dense forested region. This operation comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Jammu and Kashmir on April 19, 2025, to inaugurate key railway projects, prompting heightened security measures across the region.

Infiltration:

• On the night of April 4–5, 2025, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel stationed at the Abdullian Border Out Post in Jammu's R S Pura sector observed suspicious movement along the International Border. Despite being challenged, the unidentified Pakistani intruder continued advancing towards the Indian side. Perceiving a threat, the BSF troops neutralized the intruder. The identity and motive of the individual are currently under investigation. Following the incident, the BSF lodged a formal protest with the Pakistan Rangers. The local police have conducted postmortem and other legal procedures on the body.
• On the night of April 11, 2025, Subedar Kuldeep Chand of the 9 Punjab Regiment was killed during a counter-infiltration operation in the Keri Battal area of Sunderbani, Akhnoor sector, Jammu and Kashmir. He was leading his team when they detected movement of heavily armed infiltrators near a stream in the dense forest. A fierce exchange of fire ensued, during which Subedar Chand sustained critical injuries and later succumbed to them. Multiple reports indicate that Pakistan Army violated ceasefire agreement to provide cover-fire to the infiltrators. One Pakistan Army soldier named Saddam Choudhary Khurshid also got killed during the retaliatory fire by Indian side.

                               Sub Kuldeep Chand             Saddam Choudhary Khurshid

Raids:

• On April 9, 2025, Jammu and Kashmir Police in Sopore attached seven marlas of land belonging to two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives, Bilal Ahmad Mir and Mohammad Umar Mir, both residents of Brath Kalan, Sopore. The action was taken under Sections 82 and 83 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in connection with cases registered under the Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Explosive Substances Act.
• On April 10, 2025, police in Poonch district attached a six-kanal land parcel belonging to Mohd Bashir in Bagyal Dara village of Haveli tehsil. Bashir had absconded to Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and was declared a proclaimed offender under the Egress and Internal Movement (Control) Ordinance. The attachment was executed following court orders.
• On April 10, 2025, Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted search operations at the residences of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) members Bashir Ahmed Bhat, also known as Peer Saifullah, and Mohammad Ashraf Laya in Srinagar and Pulwama districts. These searches were part of an investigation under Sections 10 and 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), linked to FIR No. 01/2024 registered at Rajbagh Police Station. The operations were carried out after obtaining warrants from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court in Srinagar and were conducted in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses. During the search at Bhat's residence in Rawalpora, Srinagar, police recovered incriminating materials, including books, letterheads, pamphlets, and letters related to the ongoing investigation. These items were seized following proper legal procedures. Bhat, originally from Zadoora, Pulwama, is currently lodged in Tihar Jail. Laya, originally from Jamia Qadeem, Baramulla, now resides in Old Barzulla, Srinagar. The police stated that the investigation is ongoing and emphasized their commitment to dismantling the remnants of the separatist and terrorist ecosystem in the region.
• On April 11, 2025, Jammu and Kashmir Police in Doda district booked an Over Ground Worker (OGW), identified as Mohd Rafi alias Pinka, under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Rafi, a resident of Phagsoo, Doda, was involved in activities that threatened public peace and aimed to create communal tension in Thathri and nearby areas. His actions were deemed a threat to the law-and-order situation in the region. Consequently, a preventive detention order was issued under Section 8 of the PSA 1978, signed by the District Magistrate of Doda. Following this, Rafi was shifted to District Jail Udhampur.

Hideouts/Recoveries:

• On April 6, 2025, a joint operation by the Kupwara Police and the Indian Army's 47 Rashtriya Rifles (47RR) led to the recovery of a significant cache of war-like stores in the Kandi Forest belt of Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir. This Search and Destroy Operation (SADO) uncovered a machine gun, seven assorted hand grenades, 90 loose rounds of ammunition, a Chinese-made binocular, two solar-powered mobile chargers, clothing including a foreign-origin sleeping bag, and a substantial quantity of Pakistan-made medicines. The recovered items suggest potential links to cross-border infiltration and militant activities. An FIR has been filed under relevant sections of the law, and investigations are ongoing.

Credits: War & Gore

• Following the April 09 encounter, security forces uncovered a KT terrorist hideout in the Chatroo forests, revealing a range of items that clearly indicate the group had been stationed there for an extended period and had established it as a base of operations. Among the seized materials were religious texts including the Quran, sleeping bags, clothing, solar chargers, AK magazines, a mobile phone, a Chinese "ultra-set" radio, batteries with charger, a gas cylinder, shoes, food supplies like tea and rice, utensils, and medicines. Notably, several of the medicine packets bore the label "government supply – not for sale," strongly suggesting that they were sourced from public healthcare facilities. This points to the involvement of Over Ground Workers (OGWs), as such supplies would not be accessible to terrorists without local logistical support. The presence of Chinese “ultra-sets” further underscores the use of encrypted communication methods, highlighting the group’s efforts to evade surveillance and maintain operational secrecy.

Analysis:

During the first half of April 2025, the overall security situation in the Kashmir division remained relatively stable, with only a single counter-terrorism development—the recovery of arms, ammunition, and logistics supplies from the Kandi Forest belt in Kupwara. No major kinetic engagements were reported in the valley during this period.

In contrast, the Jammu division witnessed heightened activity. All search operations, encounters, infiltration attempts, and ceasefire violations (CFVs) occurred in this region. A notable uptick in cross-border infiltration attempts was observed along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB), specifically in Poonch, Rajouri, Akhnoor, and Samba districts. These attempts were facilitated by covering fire from Pakistani posts across the LoC, clearly indicating a coordinated push from across the border.

The Kashmir Tigers, a known front for Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), dominated the threat landscape in Jammu during this time. The encounter that began on April 9 in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar led to the elimination of three terrorists belonging to the group led by JeM commander Saifullah. While the successful neutralization of these militants marked a significant operational success for the Security Forces (SFs), Saifullah managed to evade capture, underscoring the need for continued tracking operations.

Post-operation recoveries included M4 carbines, Night Vision Devices (NVDs), and a well-equipped hideout stocked with essential supplies for long-term sustenance in the forested terrain.

Chinese-manufactured "Ultra Set" were also recovered, indicating a degree of technological sophistication and foreign assistance in communication logistics. The "Ultra Set" is a specialized Chinese-manufactured communication device reportedly used by the Pakistan Army and associated non-state actors in Jammu and Kashmir. Unlike standard mobile phones, Ultra Sets combine cellular capabilities with specialized radio equipment, operating on radio frequencies for message transmission and reception. Each device is linked to a control station located across the border, and messages are compressed and transmitted via Chinese satellites to a master server in Pakistan for onward transmission. These devices do not rely on traditional mobile technologies like GSM or CDMA, making them difficult to intercept. The use of such encrypted communication tools poses significant challenges to security forces in monitoring and countering infiltration attempts. The Indian Army is reportedly working on methods to crack the encryption used by these devices to better counter the security threats they pose. While specific frequency bands used by the Ultra-Set are not publicly disclosed, it's noteworthy that Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, which operates over a wide frequency range, is known for its low power consumption and high data rates. UWB's characteristics make it suitable for secure, short-range communication, which could be advantageous for covert operations.? The Ultra-Set's reliance on radio frequencies and satellite communication, coupled with message compression, enhances its security by reducing the risk of interception and detection.