Three Weeks On: CASOs Grip Poonch and Kathua in IIOJK

For residents of Poonch and Kathua in IIOJK, forests have turned into fear zones as Indian forces continue relentless search operations, deepening an already volatile atmosphere.

Indian forces have intensified cordon and search operations in the Poonch and Kathua districts of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), sparking fresh concerns over rising militarization and civilian suffering.

In Poonch, the operations have entered their sixth consecutive day, with the search focusing on the forest area of Lasana. The area has been sealed off as troops scour the terrain for suspected militants or so-called “anti-national” elements.

Additional forces have been deployed to aid the operation, which involves personnel from the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police.

These large-scale operations have become more frequent and aggressive, particularly after resistance to Indian control has intensified post-2019.

Meanwhile, similar operations are also ongoing in the Kathua district, where Indian troops have been conducting intensive searches in multiple areas for the past three weeks.

These operations follow a recent incident in Jothana, where Indian troops martyred two Kashmiri youths, a move widely condemned by local communities and rights groups.

The authorities claim these actions are part of counter-insurgency measures, but locals say they are living under constant fear, with random raids, interrogations, and detentions becoming a norm.

Witnesses report that entire neighborhoods are often surrounded, phones are seized, and residents—including elderly and children—are subjected to long hours of questioning.

So far, dozens of civilians have been arrested under black laws, including the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Critics argue these operations are less about security and more about crushing dissent and establishing deeper control over the occupied territory.

The frequent deployment of military units into civilian areas and the use of force in rural and forested zones are part of a strategy to instill fear and disrupt normal life, according to local political analysts.

These aggressive tactics are drawing increasing criticism from human rights observers who view the actions as collective punishment and a violation of international humanitarian law.

The expanding footprint of Indian forces in the region is making daily life more uncertain for Kashmiris, who continue to resist what they see as military occupation and colonial subjugation.

As the international community remains largely silent, Kashmiris are left to navigate life under siege, facing the double trauma of militarization and marginalization.