Facts For Prelims:Operation Trashi-I/ White Knight Corps

Operation Trashi-I/ White Knight Corps

• Operation Trashi-I: This specific mission was launched by the Army’s White Knight Corps (16 Corps) on January 19, 2026.
• Intelligence-Led: The search operation was triggered by specific intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the upper reaches of Kishtwar.

The White Knight Corps (also known as the 16 Corps) is one of the most critical and largest operational formations of the Indian Army. It is part of the Northern Command and is headquartered at Nagrota, Jammu and Kashmir.

It is specifically designed to handle both the conventional threat from across the border and the internal security challenge of counter-insurgency.

Core Responsibility & Geography:

The White Knight Corps is responsible for the security of the Jammu region. Their area of operation is vast and diverse, spanning from the plains of the International Border (IB) to the rugged, high-altitude mountains of the Pir Panjal range.

• Border Guarding: They guard a significant portion of the Line of Control (LoC).
• Counter-Terrorism: They are the primary force conducting operations in districts like Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban.

Operational Roles:

The Corps maintains a dual-role capability:

• Conventional Warfare: Preparing for a full-scale war, focusing on mountain warfare and defending the territory against external aggression.

• Counter-Insurgency (CI) / Counter-Terrorism (CT): Under the umbrella of “Operation Rakshak,” the Corps works to eliminate terrorist modules. They oversee several Rashtriya Rifles (RR) sectors that are specifically trained for jungle and mountain guerrilla warfare.