Subhechcha Ganguly 
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to visit Jammu and Kashmir today, marking his first trip to the region since India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, following a four-day intense military confrontation. Jammu and Kashmir was among the worst-affected areas during the escalation, which saw heavy cross-border fire and precision airstrikes.
During the visit, Rajnath Singh will be accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The visit is expected to include an assessment of the security situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and interactions with troops stationed in forward areas.
The Defence Minister’s visit comes shortly after a high-level national security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. The meeting reviewed the overall border situation in the wake of Operation Sindoor and the subsequent ceasefire. It was attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, the three service chiefs, and the Foreign Secretary.
Just a day prior, Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated the BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow, calling it a “milestone in India’s journey towards aatma-nirbharta (self-reliance)” in the defence sector. The new facility, part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC), has already generated around 500 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs.
Singh’s visit to J&K underlines India’s resolve to maintain vigilance along its sensitive borders and reassures both the armed forces and the local population in the aftermath of the recent cross-border hostilities.
