COAS Visits Srinagar Amid Rising Tensions Along LoC Following Pahalgam Terror Attack

On Friday, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Srinagar to evaluate the current security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. His visit followed a night of intense activity along the Line of Control (LoC), where Pakistani forces reportedly opened small arms fire at multiple locations. The firing was believed to be a reaction to suspicions of Indian Army movement across the border in response to a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

The April 22 attack at Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam claimed 26 lives and has been described as one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the region in nearly two decades. In response, Indian authorities initiated a series of diplomatic and operational measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, downgrading diplomatic relations, closing the Attari border crossing, and revoking visas issued to Pakistani citizens.

During his visit, General Dwivedi was briefed by the commander of the 15 Corps on counter-terrorism actions underway and the broader security landscape. He also assessed the preparedness of Indian forces to execute ongoing and future missions aimed at neutralizing terrorist threats.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha met with the army chief and emphasized the need for swift action to dismantle terrorist networks and bring the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to justice. He urged for coordinated efforts among the army, police, and paramilitary units to locate and eliminate both direct attackers and their support infrastructure.

Meanwhile, a senior official stated that Pakistani troops conducted what is known as "reconnaissance by fire" across various sections of the LoC, in an effort to confirm Indian troop presence following the terror strike. One significant ceasefire violation was reported in north Kashmir’s Tutmari Gali area, where an Indian post came under direct fire from the Pakistani side, prompting a response from Indian forces stationed there.

No official statement was released by the Indian Army regarding these developments, but the ceasefire breach marks the first major incident since early April. The timing and scale of the firing have raised concerns of a potential escalation following the Pahalgam tragedy.

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The hunt continues for the militant group responsible for the Pahalgam attack, which was carried out on a six-kilometre unguarded trail between the main market and the Baisaran meadow. At the time of the attack, only four unarmed guards affiliated with the J&K Police were present. This security lapse has drawn attention to vulnerabilities at tourist locations, especially amid a surge in visitors to the region.

The recent events may prompt a shift in the operational focus of Indian security forces, who now face the dual challenge of preventing infiltrations along the LoC and protecting civilian areas, including tourist sites, from future attacks.