New Delhi/Srinagar, Feb 4, 2026 – Indian security forces announced a significant victory today in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), claiming to have neutralized three members of armed opposition allegedly affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) group during a fierce encounter in Udhampur district. The operation, dubbed "Operation Kiya," unfolded in the forested terrain of Upper Majalta, where troops from the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) engaged the suspects in a prolonged gunfight. Officials alleged that the members of the armed opposition, identified as Pakistani nationals originating from Rawalakot in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (referred to as Azad Kashmir by Pakistan), were eliminated after they opened fire on a search party. Weapons recovered included M4 assault rifles and AK-47s, underscoring the group's sophisticated armament.
According to Indian authorities, allegedly claims that the members of armed opposition had infiltrated across the Line of Control (LoC) in April 2024 as part of a larger group of 35-40 operatives aimed at reviving JeM's presence in eastern Jammu. They were described as battle-hardened commanders responsible for multiple attacks in the Kishtwar region, including targeted killings of Hindu civilians, signalling a shift in militant tactics toward communal polarization. This encounter comes amid a reported resurgence of armed opposition in J&K, which Indian media and officials trace back to April 2024, coinciding with increased infiltrations and attacks following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The violence has notably shifted southward from the Kashmir Valley to the Hindu-majority Jammu region, with experts noting a "new wave" of hybrid armed opposition involving local recruits and foreign fighters exploiting forested borders for ambushes.
However, conflicting reports have emerged from the other side of the LoC. An X post by geopolitical journalist Hira Waheed (@hirawaheed93) described the incident as an "Indian army's cave blast" that "martyred" a Kashmiri freedom fighter named Abu Mawaiya in Udhampur, suggesting only one or two casualties and framing it as resistance against occupation. The post, which included video footage and hashtags like #UdhampurUpdate and #Kashmir, garnered attention for its supportive tone toward armed opposition, highlighting the deep narrative divide in the conflict. Other X users reported one "terrorist" killed and another trapped, aligning partially with Indian claims but emphasizing Pakistani-backed elements' collapse.
This incident is not isolated but ties into a broader pattern of escalation. It follows the deadly Pahalgam massacre in April 2025, where allegedly members of armed opposition killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists which never varified by independent sources, in a scenic park attack claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a JeM affiliate. That event triggered India's "Operation Sindoor" in May 2025, a series of missile strikes on nine allegedly fighters camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, reportedly killing 70 militants and injuring over 60 in locations like Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Rawalakot. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah later confirmed the elimination of the Pahalgam perpetrators in "Operation Mahadev" in July 2025, recovering Pakistani IDs and goods from the slain militants. Pakistan denied involvement, dismissing evidence as fabricated social media claims. The operations marked the worst Indo-Pakistani clashes in decades, with a fragile ceasefire holding along the LoC but tensions simmering.
Adding a layer of intrigue, Indian intelligence alleges Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is channelling right-wing religious militants, including JeM operatives, to bolster Jamaat-e-Islami's influence in Bangladesh's upcoming elections on February 12, 2026. Reports suggest this is part of a strategy to exploit regional instability, with JeM leaders vowing revenge for Operation Sindoor by striking deeper into India. Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami, historically linked to Pakistan during the 1971 Liberation War, has seen a resurgence amid political turmoil, with accusations of ties to militant groups like Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and demands for Sharia law. Critics in Dhaka warn of Pakistan using proxies to interfere, potentially turning Bangladesh into a new front for Islamist militancy. Pakistan rejects these claims, accusing India of supporting separatists like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), where recent operations where armed opposition lost almost 200 fighters.
The timing of the Udhampur encounter coincides with heightened Indo-Pakistani friction in other arenas, including sports. As the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 unfolds in Sri Lanka and India, Pakistan has boycotted its February 15 group-stage match against India in Colombo, citing government directives amid the Kashmir dispute. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized "no politics in sports" while supporting Bangladesh, risking ICC penalties and financial losses for Pakistan. The boycott has plunged the tournament into crisis, underscoring the spillover of geopolitical tensions into global events.
Amid this cycle of violence, voices for peace persist. Groups like the KIF; All JK Youth Society; Jammu Kashmir United Peace Movement; Nature-Human Centric People Movement; Jammu Kashmir Freedom Movement; Nature Mankind Friendly Global Party; Yakjah Reconciliation and Development Network Natrang Theatre Group; Apni Party; Ladakh Ecological Development Group; Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh; Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh; Julay Ladakh; Women's Alliance of Ladakh; Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre; Ladakh Centre for Peace & Sustainable Development; Yakjah Reconciliation and Development Network; Interfaith and Harmony Programmes; Leh Apex Body & Kargil Democratic Alliance; Ladakh Arts & Media Organisation; Awami Action Committee GB; No Taxation Without Representation" Movement; Land Rights and Resource Movement; Joint Awami Action Committee AJK; 38-Point Charter of Demands; JKLF; UKPNP; NAP; NSF; JKPNP.
For over eight decades, voices aligned with mainstream political parties across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir—spanning both Indian and Pakistani administrative structures—have persistently campaigned for a peaceful, democratic resolution to avert further bloodshed. They have advanced numerous win-win alternatives, such as shared sovereignty between India and Pakistan, genuine cross-border friendship and cooperation, and full implementation of UN resolutions enabling a free and fair election for the region's people to exercise their right to self-determination for a final outcome.
Critics accuse both governments of employing colonial-era tactics to suppress dissent and deny basic rights. In Indian-administered areas, draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) have been widely criticized for enabling arbitrary detentions and curbs on freedoms. In Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, similar repressive measures prevail, including misuse of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) to target activists, politicians, and critics, alongside constitutional prohibitions on dissent against accession to Pakistan, restrictions on free speech, assembly, and media, and frequent arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and surveillance.
Prominent figures such as Yasin Malik and Shabir Shah remain imprisoned in Indian jails, while climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) since September 2025. Hundreds of political activists, human rights defenders, and journalists face incarceration in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir under anti-terrorism and sedition charges.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has consistently rallied international support, condemning human rights violations, calling for the release of political prisoners, repeal of repressive laws, and renewed dialogue between India and Pakistan. It emphasizes that a just and sustainable resolution—rooted in UN principles and the Kashmiri people's aspirations—is essential for lasting peace and stability across South Asia.
An image circulating on social media, believed to depict one of the armed opposition, shows a young man in traditional attire against a scenic backdrop, symbolizing the human face of the conflict. As casualties mount—official data shows over 92 political violence-related fatalities in J&K in 2025 alone—calls for renewed bilateral talks grow louder. Analysts warn that without addressing root causes, including Kashmiri aspirations and cross-border support for militancy, the region risks further destabilization. The international community, including the UN and major powers, must intensify efforts to mediate before another full-scale crisis erupts.
Indian Claims not verified by Independent Sources
Indian authorities and media have repeatedly attributed armed opposition activities in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-based group designated as a terrorist organization by the UN, US, and others. For the specific Udhampur encounter on or around February 4, 2026, in the Basantgarh area, Indian reports state that three members of armed opposition were killed, including a JeM commander identified as Maviya. These sources claim the fighters were Pakistani nationals affiliated with JeM who had infiltrated from across the border, likely from Pakistan-administered Kashmir (referred to as Azad Kashmir), and were active in the region for some time, involved in prior attacks in areas like Kathua, Doda, and Udhampur. Officials described the operation as involving joint forces (Indian Army, J&K Police, CRPF) that trapped the militants in a cave or forest hideout, leading to their elimination after a firefight, with weapons like an AK-47 and M4 rifle recovered.
Regarding independent confirmation: Searches across international outlets like BBC, Reuters, and Al Jazeera yielded no coverage of this specific February 2026 Udhampur incident or direct verification of the militants' JeM affiliation and origins. Pakistani media, such as Dawn, also showed no reports on this event, though older articles reference similar claims without endorsement. Broader analyses from sources like the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point note ongoing JeM activities and infiltrations in J&K, often based on Indian security assessments, but do not independently verify this particular encounter. Social media discussions on X largely echo Indian media narratives, with no counter-claims or independent corroboration from non-Indian users in the results.
For the ongoing pattern of claims about JeM militants in J&K "for quite some time," Indian sources frequently report infiltrations from Pakistan-administered areas, with groups like JeM active in districts like Udhampur, Kathua, and Doda since at least 2024-2025. However, independent international reporting on specific incidents remains limited, often relying on official Indian statements without on-ground verification. Pakistan typically denies involvement in such activities, labelling them as internal Indian matters or fabrications, though no specific rebuttals to this Udhampur claim appeared based on up-to-date online search.
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