Defence minister arrives in Jammu

JAMMU - Defence Minister A.K. Antony arrived here Tuesday on a day-long visit to assess the situation along the international border and Line of Control (LoC) that divide India and Pakistan. The minister will also evaluate the internal security of Jammu and Kashmir.

Antony’s visit comes when the state is witnessing a fresh spurt of violence in the valley, especially after the terror attack in summer capital Srinagar’s Lal Chowk last week.

According to army sources, the minister will visit the forward areas along the international border in Ranbirsinghpora and Samba sector, and evaluate the threat in an area where Pakistanis have been attempting to push in infiltrators and have tried to cut the barbed wire fence.

The defence minister is also scheduled to chair a meeting of the unified high command, an apex body of all the wings of security forces, including the army, paramilitary forces, the Jammu and Kashmir police and the intelligence agencies.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is the chairman of the unified high command. He will chair Tuesday’s meeting.