Manohar Parrikar arrives in Jammu and Kashmir to review security situation

Srinagar: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday began his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review the security situation in the state.

The minister arrived in Nubra in Ladakh region from where he will go to Leh and later to Srinagar.

The Defence Minister is accompanied by Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command Lt Gen D S Hooda during the visit which will cover all three regions of the state.

Lt Gen V S Negi, General officer Commanding of 14 Corps, will brief him about the situation along the Line of Control on Pakistani side and Line of Actual Control along the Chinese side, a Defence spokesman said.

Parrikar will then fly to Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, where he will hold meetings with Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

"Besides these meetings, the Defence Minister will be briefed by GoC 15 Corps Lt Gen Subrata Saha on the security situation in the valley and along the Line of Control," he said.

The spokesman said Parrikar, after overnight stay in Srinagar, will fly to Jammu where GoC 16 Corps Lt Gen K H Singh will brief him on the situation.

"The Defence Minister will visit some forward posts in Poonch sector in Jammu where senior officers will brief him," he added.

This will be Parrikar's second visit to Jammu and Kashmir since assuming charge of the ministry in November last year.