Jammu: Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, arrived in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Saturday, extending solidarity to victims of the recent intense cross-border shelling by Pakistan.
This marks Gandhi’s second visit to the Union Territory since the tragic April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, predominantly tourists. Following that incident, he had visited Srinagar on April 25 to meet the injured and engage with the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, and various stakeholders.
On Saturday morning, Gandhi flew to Jammu airport before taking a helicopter to Poonch, aiming to assess the areas affected by the recent cross-border firing and console bereaved families.
LoP Rahul Gandhi visiting families affected by #Pakistani Shelling in #Poonch.@INCIndia @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/iyrKB40Qmz
— Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) (@kashmirdotcom) May 24, 2025
The Poonch sector witnessed a severe escalation in artillery and mortar shelling after India conducted “Operation Sindoor” on May 7. This operation involved “precise strikes” on nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, launched in direct retaliation for the Pahalgam massacre.
Between May 7 and 10, Pakistan unleashed a barrage of artillery fire, missiles, and drone strikes across Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in a devastating toll of 28 fatalities, with 13 lives lost in Poonch district alone, and over 70 injuries.
The relentless shelling forced thousands of residents from areas near the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border to abandon their homes and seek refuge in government-run relief camps. A fragile understanding was eventually reached between India and Pakistan on May 10, bringing an end to four days of intense cross-border military confrontation.
According to Tariq Hameed Karra, president of the Congress’s Jammu and Kashmir unit, Gandhi’s itinerary in Poonch includes visits to shell-damaged structures, specifically a gurdwara, a temple, a madrassa, and a Christian missionary school. He is also scheduled to meet with affected families and members of civil society.
Karra emphasised the significance of Gandhi’s visit, stating he is the “first national leader to reach out to the affected population to express his solidarity and share their pain.” During his previous visit to the region, Gandhi had stressed the imperative of national unity to defeat terrorism, asserting that such attacks aim to divide the populace.
