Army Dog Tyson Hero in Kishtwar Counter Terror Operation

Tyson, a dog of an unknown breed who worked as an Indian Army sniffer dog, was a sort of hero in an incredibly daring counter-terrorist operation in the deep woods of Chatroo in the Jammu and Kashmir district of Kishtwar. The German shepherd followed the army during an attack with the special forces of the Army’s 2 Para (Special Forces) group and killed three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists.

Security forces achieved a major success under Operation Trashi-I as they intensified efforts to dismantle terrorist networks operating in the region’s hilly terrain.

A Mission in Difficult Terrain

The forests of Kishtwar are characterized by high slopes, heavy vegetation, and poor visibility, which makes counter-terror operations very difficult. The terrorist group had been on the radar of the security forces for more than a month before they could finally narrow down on them.

When the soldiers were slowly proceeding to a suspected hideout, Tyson was employed to track the location of the militants. The K9 unit crawled to an underground hideout where the terrorists were and, with great training and instinct, they were located.

This motion caused direct shooting by the militants.

Courage Beyond Injury

Tyson did not run away, although he was shot in the leg in the process. He instead proceeded to attack the hideout, as soldiers have accurate positioning of the terrorists.

His actions allowed the troops to:

• Identify the hideout location.
• Achieve the tactical edge in the thick woods.
• Avoid a probable surprise attack on advancing troops.
• Effectively counter the terrorists.

Later, Tyson was airlifted to a military hospital and is said to be in a stable state, which has relieved both soldiers and citizens who have hailed his courage.

High-Value Target Eliminated

Security forces killed several terrorists during the encounter, including Saifullah Baloch, a senior Jaish-e-Mohammed commander from Pakistan. He had allegedly operated in India for nearly five years. Authorities placed a ₹5 lakh bounty on him for his involvement in multiple terror operations. He was also linked to the July 2024 ambush that killed four Rashtriya Rifles soldiers.

After an intense exchange of fire, security forces set the terrorists’ hideout ablaze and recovered firearms and ammunition from the site. The troops later neutralized the third militant, successfully bringing the operation to an end.

The Role of Army Dogs in Modern Warfare

The heroism of Tyson highlights the importance of military working dogs in contemporary warfare missions. Army dogs are trained to do specialized work, including:

• Violent and weapon searches.
• Monitoring suspects in hostile places.
• Search-and-rescue missions
• Patrol and rescue services.
• Intelligence and reconnaissance assistance.

Their high level of senses and dexterity can either make or break a risky operation.

Sacrifice and Service

The story also remembers another Army dog, a Belgian Malinois called Phantom, who was killed in October 2024 during an act of defence of soldiers, although Tyson survived. Such cases point to the perils that such animals may encounter along with the human staff.

A Symbol of Loyalty and Bravery

The actions of Tyson have proved again that heroism is a species-free concept. His strength during the fire not only helped in a significant operation but also in saving lives. With India remaining in the war against terrorism, testimonies such as that of Tyson are good reminders about courage, loyalty and the silent warriors who work with the soldiers at the point of action

References Link: https://odishabytes.com/army-dog-tyson-emerges-hero-in-kishtwar-encounter-that-eliminated-three-jaish-terrorists/