Officials cited fresh intelligence warning of attempts to exploit winter fog, freezing temperatures, and challenging terrain. The sweep gained urgency after Sunday's sighting of two armed men who demanded food at a residence in Udhampur's Chore Motu village before vanishing into Majalta forests.
Operations span sensitive districts including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, and Rajouri. Troops targeted spots like Babar Nala, Pragwal, Pansar, Paharpur, and Thanamandi.
In Srinagar, sniffer dogs and detectors swept crowded Amira Kadal and Maharaja Bazar markets, extending checks near Bakshi Stadium and Lal Chowk ahead of Republic Day events.
BSF sources noted Pakistan's reactivation of roughly 72 launch pads facing Jammu—12 along the international border and 60 near the LoC—prompting tighter surveillance.
With Kashmir Valley routes largely secured by fencing and tech, militants increasingly eye Jammu's unfenced, rugged stretches as alternatives.
The coordinated drive reflects broader efforts to counter seasonal threats in the region.
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