Jaitley in Srinagar to review security situation

Accompanied by Army Chief General Bikram Singh, Arun Jaitley arrived in Srinagar on his maiden visit since assuming charge as Defence Minister

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley arrived here on Saturday on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. He is accompanied by Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh.

This is Jaitley's maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir after he took over as the defence minister.

He was received at the Srinagar International Airport by senior army officers.

Jaitley flew in an army helicopter to the Badami Bagh headquarters of army's 15 Corps, where the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command, Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda, a commanders of 14, 15 and 16 Corps will brief him about the security situation in the state.

Sources said the focus of Jaitley's review is the recent violations of the bilateral ceasefire agreement by the Pakistani Army on the Line of Control (LoC) and on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.

The minister will also review the security situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the state between India and China.

Sources said the army's counter-insurgency operations would also be reviewed during the meeting.

Jaitley will also call on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here on Saturday afternoon, while Governor N.N. Vohra will host a dinner for him at the Raj Bhavan in the evening.

Jaitley is scheduled to co-chair a meeting of the unified headquarters in Srinagar on Sunday.

Unified headquarters is the apex security grid in the state comprising top brass of the state government, army, paramilitary forces, state and central intelligence agencies and the local police.

The unified headquarter is headed by the state chief minister.

The defence minister is also scheduled to visit some forward positions on the LoC on Sunday where he will interact with army officers and soldiers.