CRPF Deploys 43 Temporary Operating Bases in Jammu and Kashmir After Pahalgam Attack
In a decisive response to the Pahalgam terror attack, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has established 43 temporary operating bases across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Security officials confirmed on Wednesday that each base is staffed with 16 to 25 personnel tasked with tracking and eliminating terrorists who are hiding in the higher reaches of the region.
Strategic Deployment Across High-Altitude Regions
The temporary bases are strategically positioned at elevations of 6,000 feet and above, with 26 located in the Kashmir division and 17 in the Jammu division. CRPF troops, often accompanied by a few Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel, utilize these bases for short durations of a few days at a time. Their primary mission is to launch search and assault operations against terrorists who typically use 'dhoks'—mud and stone huts—as temporary hideouts.
These terrorists are believed to be awaiting instructions from their Pakistan-based handlers to execute further terror attacks. The bases serve as forward operating points to disrupt these plans and neutralize threats before they can materialize.
Specialized Equipment and Operational History
To enhance operational effectiveness in these challenging environments, CRPF has procured specialized equipment for the temporary bases. This includes tactical boots, winter jackets, sleeping bags, and satellite phones, ensuring that personnel are well-equipped for the harsh conditions and can maintain communication in remote areas.
The first set of such temporary bases was established by CRPF in April 2025 along the Pahalgam-Tral-Harwan axis, immediately following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that same month. In a notable success, CRPF and other security forces used one of these bases to locate the hideout of the three Pahalgam attackers—all identified as Pakistanis—near the Dachigam area in Srinagar. All three terrorists were eliminated in Operation Mahadev in July 2025.
Background and Current Threat Landscape
Prior to the Pahalgam terror attack, the Pakistani terrorists had taken shelter in a dhok near the tourist site in Baisaran, where they carried out an attack that resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists. After the attack, the terrorists fled into the surrounding forest, forcing security forces to conduct extensive search operations for months before successfully tracking their location.
According to current security data, there are approximately two local terrorists and around 100 foreign terrorists active in the region at present. This underscores the ongoing threat and the critical need for proactive measures like the temporary bases to counter terrorist activities effectively.
The establishment of these bases represents a significant escalation in CRPF's counter-terrorism strategy, aiming to maintain pressure on terrorist networks and prevent future attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
