Two Jaish-e-Mohammad Terrorists Killed in Overnight Encounter in Udhampur District's Brattal Area, Joint Operation by Army, Police, and CRPF Continues Despite Hostile Weather

Two terrorists suspected to be affiliated with Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad were killed in an intelligence-based operation during the intervening night of September 16-17 in the Brattal area of Udhampur district, the Army's White Knight Corps confirmed on September 17. The joint operation involving the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF was launched after confirmed inputs indicated the presence of terrorists in the general area of Brattal, Udhampur. Despite hostile weather, difficult terrain, and poor visibility, troops launched a targeted counter-terrorism operation, resulting in the neutralization of two terrorists, the White Knight Corps said in a post on X. Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. The operation remains in progress, with search and surveillance continuing in the area, and security forces remain deployed to track and neutralize any remaining threat. Officials said police and security forces had been looking for a terrorist group after its movement was noticed in the dense forested area last week, with the cordon established around 9 pm on Wednesday following fresh inputs. Why It Matters: The Udhampur encounter marks the latest in a sustained counter-terrorism campaign across the Jammu region, where security agencies have stepped up surveillance and area domination patrols in the mountainous districts of Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, and Kathua to prevent infiltration and terrorist movement. The killing of two suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad operatives in difficult high-altitude forest terrain demonstrates the security forces' operational reach, but it also confirms that Pakistan-based terror groups continue to attempt infiltration and maintain a presence in areas that were relatively quiet in prior years. The operation's execution despite hostile weather and poor visibility underscores the intelligence-driven nature of the engagement, suggesting real-time tracking and coordination that allowed forces to close in on the terroris