A seven-member terrorist module of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operating in the Kishtwar region has been dismantled. Known as the “Israel Group”, the terrorists were eliminated after a prolonged counter-terror operation that spanned nearly 18 months.

The last three members of the group, including its self-styled commander Saifullah, were killed in the Chhatroo area on Sunday, February 22. Officials described this as the culmination of a sustained effort to track and neutralise the module, with Inspector General of Police (Jammu Zone) Bhim Sen Tuti stating that “Sunday marked the culmination of a year-and-a-half-long operation.”

According to officials, the group had infiltrated into Indian territory in April 2024 and remained active in the Kishtwar region, carrying out attacks on security forces and civilians on at least 17 occasions. Security forces had maintained continuous surveillance and engagement with the group since its infiltration.

The operation to track and neutralise the group was sustained over difficult terrain and extreme weather conditions, including snow, rain, and landslides. In April 2025, three members of the module were eliminated in an early breakthrough. However, the remaining four, including Saifullah, evaded capture and continued to operate in the region.

The breakthrough came when fresh intelligence inputs surfaced in January 2026 from multiple agencies, including the police and intelligence units. This led to the launch of Operation Trashi-I, a coordinated counter-terror mission conducted jointly by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force under the White Knight Corps. Tuti noted that the final phase was driven by “precise intelligence inputs”.

According to reports, contact with the remaining terrorists was established on January 18, when their well-stocked hideout was identified and destroyed. On February 4, another member of the group, codenamed Adil, was killed during continued operations. The final phase began on the night of February 21–22, when security forces cordoned off a remote mountain location where the remaining terrorists had taken shelter in a “dhok”, or hut.

The terrorists were engaged the following morning, and all three were neutralised within hours. General Officer Commanding, Counter-Insurgency Force Delta, A P S Bal said, “The troops displayed exceptional tactical precision and swiftness, ensuring zero casualties among their own personnel.”

An Army-trained dog, Tyson, played a key role in the final assault, entering the hideout to confirm the presence of terrorists and sustaining injuries after coming under fire. He was later evacuated and is reported to be stable.

Security forces recovered weapons, including three AK-47 rifles, from the site. Officials said operations will continue, with Major General Bal warning that “anyone who is an enemy of the nation… will be identified, targeted and neutralised,” and Tuti asserting that efforts will persist “until the entire terror network is completely dismantled.”

Deepak Bhadana

Over the past decade, Deepak Bhadana has built expertise in multimedia storytelling, with a focus on military conflicts, insurgencies, international relations, the defence industry, and occasionally, wildlife and environmental issues.