Defense Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Srinagar on Thursday to meet with Army personnel, accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. This visit marks his first to the region since the recent Pahalgam terror attack and the cessation of hostilities agreement between India and Pakistan.
Following the “Operation Sindoor” and the ceasefire, normalcy is gradually returning to Jammu and Kashmir. The Directorate of School Education, Jammu, announced the reopening of schools in several border areas on May 15th. Schools in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch districts, which had been closed due to cross-border tensions, will resume operations. Specific zones reopening include Chowki Choura, Bhalwal, Dansal, and Gandhi Nagar in Jammu; Vijaypur in Samba; Barnoti, Lakhanpur, Sallan, and Ghagwal in Kathua; Peeri, Kalakote, Thanamandi, Moghla, Kotranka, Khawas, Lower Hathal, and Darhal in Rajouri; and Surankote and Buffliaz in Poonch.
Additionally, helicopter services from Katra to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, suspended for a week due to the hostilities, resumed on Wednesday.
The Indian Army has intensified its counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam attack. “Operation Sindoor,” launched by India, involved precision strikes on May 7th in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), reportedly resulting in over 100 terrorist casualties.
