Forces Launch Anti-Terror Operations in J&K, Army Officer Says Befitting Response to Adversary

India’s security forces on Monday (April 13, 2026) launched anti-terror operations in the border areas of Rajbagh and Ramkote in Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) based on inputs regarding suspected movement of terrorists in the region.

The security forces received information from Soffain village on the suspicious movement of two-armed persons carrying heavy backpacks. The suspected terrorists were seen moving towards the Ambanaal forests in Rajbagh on Monday (April 13) morning.

Security forces said the Indian Army and Central Reserve Police Force, along with J&K Police, launched a search and cordon immediately, which was continuing. The two suspected terrorists were yet to be located, the forces said.

This is not the first time such suspicious movement of armed persons has been noted in the Soffain forests. In March 2025, a gunfight with two terrorists from Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) broke out, which left four policemen and the two terrorists killed.

Pakistan-sponsored terrorists were using the Soffain forest as a route to reach the J&K hinterland after sneaking through the international border, officials said.

J&K Police’s Special Operations Group, along with the Army and the CRPF, also launched a search and cordon operation at Panjtirthi, Bhini Nallah, Barota, Aglidhar, and adjoining areas of Ramkote in Kathua, they said.

Similarly, the J&K Police and the Army were continuing searches for the second day in the SIDCO forest in nearby Samba district, launched on Sunday (April 12) after two more suspected persons were noticed moving in the darkness, they added.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army’s Ace of Spades Division General Officer Commanding (GOC) Major General Kaushik Mukherji said the troops were on high alert in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri and Poonch districts and were prepared to deliver a befitting response to any hostile acts by the adversary.

On Rajouri Day, to commemorate the sacrifices of the soldiers to liberate Rajouri from Pakistan Army’s occupation in the 1947-48 war, Major General Mukherji was addressing an event, where he appreciated the support and role of the local population, who continued to work with the security forces to defeat the adversary’s nefarious designs.

“Going forward, the people of Pir Panjal, the administration, and the security forces will continue to work together in coordination and will always foil the nefarious designs of the enemy. I assure you that our army is fully alert at the borders and is ready to give a befitting response to every hostile act of the enemy,” the GOC said.

Major General Mukherji said when the Army protects the borders, the local population stands shoulder to shoulder with the forces, strengthening internal security. “This trust, partnership, and sense of patriotism constitute the greatest strengths of our region,” he said.

The Indian Army’s battle formation listed the development works done by it to improve the lives of the locals in the region of J&K, including environmental protection and the ‘Digital Bharat Dharshan’ initiative to enable students to virtually see major cities.