Fresh Wave of Cordon and Search Operations Adds to IIOJK Sufferings in Kathua

Is security the real motive, or is it yet another tool of control? Fresh military operations in Kathua raise serious concerns among locals and rights activists.

Indian troops have recently intensified their cordon and search operations (CASOs) in Kathua district, deepening the atmosphere of fear and repression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). These aggressive military operations are being carried out under the pretext of security, but locals argue they only serve to harass and intimidate the population.

According to reports, the troops focused on the upper reaches and remote regions of Kathua. Entire areas were sealed off, cutting off residents from their daily activities. Civilians, including women and elderly individuals, were subjected to questioning and unnecessary harassment by the armed forces during the search operations.

Witnesses from Kathua shared that the presence of troops has disrupted normal life. “We feel trapped in our own homes. The soldiers stop people without reason, interrogate them, and instill fear. There is no accountability,” said a resident who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons.

The search operations are still ongoing, with troops continuing to maintain a heavy presence in the district. This persistent military activity has heightened tensions and left locals living in constant anxiety.

Civil society activists and political observers have strongly criticized these CASOs, calling them part of India’s broader strategy to tighten its grip over the occupied region. They argue that such operations are not about ensuring security but rather about asserting dominance and controlling the local population.

“These repeated cordon and search operations are nothing but an instrument of repression. India is using them to terrorize civilians and justify its military occupation,” said a rights activist.

The residents of Kathua, like many across IIOJK, continue to bear the brunt of militarization. Observers question how long such heavy-handed tactics will persist and at what cost to the civilian population’s mental well-being and basic rights.

The ongoing CASOs in Kathua serve as yet another grim reminder of the daily struggles faced by the people of IIOJK. Under the shadow of military operations, real peace and stability remain elusive.