Army Chief lands in Kashmir as tensions with Pakistan surge

Srinagar: Amid rising tensions following the recent deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited Srinagar on Friday to review the security situation in Kashmir, with a particular focus on the Line of Control (LoC), where multiple ceasefire violations have been reported in the last 24 hours.

The visit comes against the backdrop of increasing hostilities along the LoC and a renewed wave of terrorist activity in the Kashmir Valley, triggering concerns of a larger conflict. Earlier in the day, reports said, the Pakistan Army opened fire with small arms at several forward posts, prompting a strong retaliation from the Indian side. No casualties have been reported so far.

General Dwivedi held a high-level security meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha during his visit.

According to officials privy to the discussions, the LG urged the Army Chief to intensify counter-terror operations and take firm measures not only to bring the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to justice but also to dismantle the broader ecosystem that sustains militancy in the region.

The meeting included a comprehensive review of existing security protocols, long- and short-term anti-terror strategies, and enhanced coordination between various security and intelligence agencies, they said.

At the Chinar Corps headquarters in Srinagar, General Dwivedi received a detailed operational briefing from senior commanders on the current ground situation, sources said. He was apprised of troop deployments along the LoC and ongoing efforts to curb infiltration and terrorist activity within the Valley.

The Army Chief also reviewed the progress of the ongoing operation to track down the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists suspected to be behind the Pahalgam attack, they said.

The terror strike has heightened concerns about cross-border infiltration and the reactivation of militant networks in south Kashmir. Two brigade-level formations of the Rashtriya Rifles and Special Forces units have been deployed to hunt down the group believed to be hiding in the forested area of Pahalgam.

General Dwivedi’s visit underscores the Army’s heightened focus on the evolving security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where a fragile peace along the LoC is under renewed strain.

Meanwhile, the United Nations on Friday urged India and Pakistan to exercise "maximum restraint" to prevent further deterioration of the tense situation in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.