Jaish commander Saifullah among 3 terrorists killed during Kishtwar encounter in Jammu and Kashmir

Jaish-e-Mohammed commander Saifullah was killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar region on February 22, 2026. (Image: News18)

• Three Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists killed in Kishtwar, J&K
• JeM commander Saifullah among those killed in Operation Trashi-I
• Two AK-47 rifles and ammunition recovered from encounter site

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Three terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit have allegedly been killed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district under Operation Trashi-I, the Indian Army's White Knight Corps said in a statement, adding that a joint operation by teams of J&K Police, Army and the CRPF was launched following credible intelligence inputs collated from the police and other intelligence agencies.

One of the two slain terrorists has been identified as notorious commander Saifullah, while the security forces have recovered two AK-47 rifles and other ammunitions from the site of encounter. The bodies of all the slain terrorists were charred beyond recognition as the mud house they were hiding in caught fire during the gunfight, PTI reported, citing officials.

Earlier, the Army had said that an encounter broke out in Passerkut in the Chatroo area of the district at about 10:30 am.

The teams received input about two Pakistani terrorists linked to the banned group Jaish-e-Mohammad being present there, officials told news agency PTI.

JeM commander Saifullah had been active in the region ever since he infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir nearly five years ago. He was allegedly the mastermind behind several deadly attacks on security forces, including one in July 2024 that left four soldiers dead.

The Indian Army said Saifullah and the other terrorists were affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). They were killed in a remote area in Kishtwar district during the ‘Trashi-I’ operation in the general area of Passerkut in Chatroo belt, while arms and ammunition, including two AK-47 rifles, were also recovered.

“Pursuant to credible intelligence inputs collated from J-K Police, IB (Intelligence Bureau) and own intelligence sources, a deliberate joint operation was launched in the Kishtwar region under operation Trashi-I to track and neutralise terrorists operating in the area. Following successful contact established earlier, troops of CIF (Counter-Intelligence Force) Delta, in close coordination with police and CRPF, re-engaged the terrorists today at approximately 11 am in challenging terrain," the Army’s White Knight Corps said in a post on X.