In the wake of recent terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir including an assault on an Army camp in Uri last week in which eight Army personnel were killed, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will visit Srinagar on Thursday to take stock of the ground situation. This is his maiden visit to the State after assuming charge as Defence Minister last month.
Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag and top commanders of Northern Command will brief him about the security scenario in Srinagar, officials said here on Wednesday. The Army brass will also apprise the Minister about operational preparedness to deal with terrorists who are now better armed and trained by the ISI and Pakistan Army in training camps across the line of Control (loC).
Parrikar will also visit the Headquarters of the 15 Corps in Srinagar and pay homage to Army personnel martyred while combating militancy in the State. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the 15 Corps Headquarters on Monday. At least 15 security men have died in the last fortnight in three encounters with terrorists in Arnia, Naugam and Uri.
Meanwhile, Parrikar on Wednesday got a detailed briefing on various Defence issues lasting nearly three hours. Some of the issues pertained to pace of modernisation of the armed forces and procurement of weapon systems, officials said.