27 June, 2025: In a significant counter-terror operation, Indian Army and J&K Police neutralized a Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist during an encounter on Thursday in the Bihali area of Basantgarh, located in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir. The slain militant has been identified as Haider alias Maulvi, a foreign national from Pakistan.
The joint operation, backed by specific intelligence inputs, was launched in Karoor Nallah, a densely forested area known for being part of the Basantgarh-Kathua infiltration corridor. According to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bhim Sen Tuti, the group consisted of four heavily armed terrorists, and the search for the remaining three is ongoing.
“We had been monitoring these terrorists for the past year,” said IGP Tuti. “The search operation is still on. The situation will become clearer after the weather improves.”
Area on High Alert Ahead of Amarnath Yatra
The encounter comes at a time when security has been heightened across Jammu and Kashmir in preparation for the Amarnath Yatra, which begins July 2. The annual pilgrimage has often been targeted by Pakistan-based terror groups like JeM and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
In recent days, mock drills have been conducted along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, and security forces are maintaining a state of high readiness.
Pakistan-Backed Terror Threat Persists
Sources indicate that one of the JeM operatives in the group is a local man, suspected of returning from Pakistan and acting as a guide or facilitator for infiltrators. This highlights Pakistan’s continuing role in abetting cross-border terrorism despite international calls to dismantle terror infrastructure on its soil.
Context: Rising Tensions and Operation Sindoor
This operation follows the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 people were killed, triggering India’s robust military response under Operation Sindoor on May 6, which targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
A brief escalation in tensions followed from May 7 to 10, before a renewed ceasefire understanding was observed between India and Pakistan.