New Delhi, February 18 The CRPF has established 43 temporary operating bases in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir following the Pahalgam attack, to search and eliminate terrorists who operate at high altitudes, security officials said on Wednesday.
These bases, located above 6,000 feet, are used to house troops of the central paramilitary force for a few days, and to launch search and assault operations in the areas where terrorists are holed up in 'dhoks' (mud and stone huts).
A total of 43 temporary operating bases have been established since the first one was created in July 2025. Of these, 26 are located in the Kashmir region, while the remaining 17 are in the Jammu area, sources said.
Each temporary operating base houses about 16-25 troops, along with personnel from the local police, they said.
Officials said that a number of temporary operating bases were established along the Pahalgam-Tral-Harwan axis immediately after the April 2025 terrorist attack in the Baisaran meadows of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and other security forces used one such temporary operating base to eliminate three terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack in July. This operation was called 'Operation Mahadev'.
Operation Mahadev began on May 22 as part of a security plan that was drawn a day after the April 22 attack in the scenic Baisaran valley of Pahalgam, where 26 tourists were killed.
The central paramilitary force has procured some special equipment for these temporary operating bases, such as tactical boots, winter jackets, sleeping bags, and satellite phones.
According to data, there are about two local terrorists active in the Union territory, while there are about 100 foreign terrorists currently active.