Srinagar, May 14, 2025 – Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today to provide a detailed briefing on the current security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir. Accompanied by Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava, GoC 15 Corps, Lt Gen Sharma outlined recent developments and key aspects of the region’s security challenges.
The Northern Command, headquartered in Udhampur, oversees military operations along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control with China, covering Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. This meeting follows the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives and was attributed to The Resistance Front , a terrorist group allegedly backed by the Pakistani Army.
Lt Gen Sharma, who assumed the role of Northern Army Commander on May 1, 2025, succeeding Lt Gen M.V. Suchendra Kumar, brings experience from operations like Pawan, Meghdoot, Rakshak, and Parakram. His previous roles as Director General of Military Operations and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) inform his approach to countering Pakistani terrorists infiltrating Jammu’s forested areas and sustaining counter-terrorism operations in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, and Kishtwar, where recent encounters have posed challenges for security forces.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in office since August 2020, stressed the importance of sustained efforts to maintain peace and foster development in Jammu and Kashmir. He has consistently highlighted Pakistan’s role in recent attacks and emphasized the region’s integration with India following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The discussion also addressed the restoration of statehood, a key issue reflected in a recent cabinet resolution by the Omar Abdullah-led government, which Sinha supports as a democratic aspiration.
The briefing covered ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC, with unprovoked firing reported in Kupwara, Baramulla, and Akhnoor sectors between April 27-29, 2025. The Indian Army’s swift response underscores Lt Gen Sharma’s focus on operational readiness. This engagement highlights the collaboration between military and civilian leadership to address Jammu and Kashmir’s evolving security and political landscape. As the Northern Command navigates threats from Pakistan and China, the leadership of Lt Gen Sharma and governance of Sinha will play a critical role in shaping the region’s future.
