Security forces have intensified counter-terror operations in central Kashmir after intelligence inputs indicated terrorist movement in the Arahama forest area of Ganderbal district. A cordon-and-search operation launched by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police led to an overnight gunfight, leaving one unidentified terrorist dead, while the operation continues amid heightened vigilance across key forest transit routes.
The Arahama forest area, which is currently being targeted by security forces, is a known transit route used by terrorists. After infiltrating from north Kashmir, often via the Kupwara and Baramulla sectors, terrorists use dense forests and rugged tracks in areas like Ganderbal to move toward central and south Kashmir.
Acting on specific intelligence about terrorist movement, security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation on the evening of March 31. According to officials, the terrorists opened fire when they were challenged, triggering an overnight gunfight in which one unidentified terrorist was killed.
The operation is still underway, with searches continuing for any other terrorists who may be trapped in the area. The encirclement of terrorists along this traditional transit route indicates that security forces are maintaining a tight vigil over forest corridors that have been used for years. It also reflects a growing focus on forested zones, which provide crucial connectivity for terrorist movement across Kashmir.
This follows a broader pattern, as the Arahama forests have long served as a transit corridor for terrorists moving from north Kashmir infiltration routes toward central and south Kashmir. Over the past three years, security forces have increasingly targeted such routes after terrorists shifted their modus operandi from urban areas to forested terrain.
Terrorist presence has largely been observed in forest regions, particularly in the Pir Panjal range, which connects to the Zabarwan hills in central Kashmir and the Shamsabari range in north Kashmir. More than 50 security personnel have lost their lives in attacks over the past three years, mainly in Rajouri, Poonch, Chatroo, and Doda in the Jammu region, as well as in Kokernag, Pahalgam, Kulgam, and Dachigam. In response, security forces have increased their presence, set up camps in forest areas, and are conducting operations regularly to make these regions free of terrorists.
Meanwhile, the Arahama forest area remains cordoned off, with searches ongoing in the forest terrain and nearby villages, including Haripora, Bonzla, and Yarmuqam. The identity and group affiliation of the slain terrorist have not yet been released, though arms and ammunition have been recovered. Details of the recovery have not been made public so far.
