Big Blow to Terror: Army Eliminates JeM’s Saifullah Baloch in J&K’s Kishtwar

Kishtwar: Security forces scored a significant success in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday after at least three terrorists, including top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander Saifullah Baloch, were killed in an encounter in Kishtwar district.

The Army’s White Knight Corps said the joint operation was launched under Operation Trashi-I following specific intelligence about the presence of militants in the area. Teams of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF carried out the coordinated action, which led to a fierce gunfight.

#𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝘀 | #𝗢𝗽𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶-𝗜 | #𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱

𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗗 𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗗 | 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘

In continued operations under #OpTrashi-I in Kishtwar, troops of CIF (D) #WhiteKnightCorps, in coordination…

— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) February 22, 2026

Saifullah Baloch, one of the most wanted terrorists in the region, was among those neutralised. He was carrying a reward of ₹5 lakh on his head and was believed to be involved in several terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the White Knight Corps, troops displayed strong tactical coordination and effectively dominated the encounter site. Security forces recovered the bodies of the terrorists along with war-like stores, including two AK-47 rifles.

Officials said search operations are continuing in nearby areas as part of the ongoing mission to eliminate remaining terrorist elements in the Kishtwar region. The operation is being viewed as a major setback to the Jaish-e-Mohammed network in Jammu and Kashmir.