Operation Keller: Indian Army Counter-Terror Mission in Jammu and Kashmir

Operation Keller is a counter-insurgency operation launched by the Indian Army on May 13, 2025, in the Keller forest sector of Shopian district, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation was to neutralise the militants involved in the April 22 attack on Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists. Check here the key highlights of Operation Keller.

What Is Operation Keller?

Operation Keller is a new counter-terrorism operation conducted by the Indian Army in the Shopian district’s Keller forest area in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The operation was launched on the basis of certain intelligence inputs about the presence of well-armed terrorists in the region. The intelligence was given by a Rashtriya Rifles unit.

Aim: To neutralise Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, who were said to be taking shelter in the Shoekal Keller area.

Operation Keller: Counter-Terror Mission In Kashmir After Operation Sindoor

Operation Keller is being well-publicised as a major counter-terror operation undertaken by the Indian Army in the Keller forest region of Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.

The timing and nature of Operation Keller unmistakably indicate that it is a follow-up to India’s aggressive counter-terror policy in the wake of the Pahalgam terror strike and the follow-up attacks on terror targets across the border.

Key Highlights of Operation Keller in Jammu and Kashmir

Operation Keller was led by Rashtriya Rifles units, with probable assistance from other security units such as the J&K Police and CRPF. In an intense exchange of gunfire in the thick forest, three LeT terrorists were eliminated. Their corpses were found inside the undergrowth.

Identified Terrorists

The killed terrorists were identified as:

• Hussain Thokar: A local who resides in Anantnag.
• Ali Bhai (also known as Talha Bhai): Suspected Pakistani terrorist.
• Hasim Musa (code name Suleiman): Also thought to be a Pakistani terrorist.

The three individuals were linked with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and were alleged to have been engaged in various terror-related activities in the area.

Conclusion

The operation is a major success in India’s anti-terror campaign, particularly after the latest Pahalgam attack. It reiterates the Indian Army’s resolve to ensure security and curb militant activities within the area.

A few reports also indicate that among the terrorists killed was Shahid Kuttay, who was a senior commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba’s proxy group, The Resistance Front (TRF) and suspected to be one of the masterminds behind the April 22nd Pahalgam terror attack.

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