Indian Army chief’s Jammu visit reflects continued militarisation in IIOJK
Jammu,: Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth is scheduled to visit Jammu on August 11 to review the situation in forward areas, in his third visit to the territory of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir within about a month, reflecting continued high-level military focus on the occupied territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, General Seth is expected to visit forward areas of the Jammu sector, including Domana and Akhnoor, and interact with field commanders during his one-day visit. He will reportedly be accompanied by senior Army officers, including the Western Army Commander and the commander of 9 Corps.
Since assuming office as Chief of Army Staff on June 30, General Seth has made repeated visits to IIOJK including Ladakh. During his July 7-9 visit, he toured Srinagar, areas under 15 Corps and Northern Command, as well as forward areas of Rajouri, Poonch and Sunderbani along the Line of Control.
He also visited Kargil on July 25 and 26 for events marking Kargil Vijay Diwas.
The latest visit will focus on areas under the Western Command, including Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts. Indian Army authorities are expected to brief the Army chief on the situation along Line of Control and the operational preparedness of troops deployed in forward areas.
The repeated visits by senior Indian military leadership and continued deployment of large numbers of troops and forces personnel underscore the extensive militarisation of IIOJK, where residents continue to live amid a pervasive military presence.
