Srinagar: A team consisting of officials from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) arrived in Srinagar today to inspect the arrangements for the upcoming G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the security situation in the region. This visit will be followed by a two-day meeting in New Delhi on April 15 and 16, where the Jammu and Kashmir security scenario, with specific reference to the G20 meeting scheduled for May in Srinagar, will be discussed.
According to official sources, the Ministries of External Affairs and Home, along with the Jammu and Kashmir Government, are working to ensure a peaceful G20 meeting in Srinagar. They have taken steps to make security arrangements well in advance to prevent any untoward incidents in the Valley.
“In light of the security concerns, a team of senior officers from the MHA and IB arrived in Srinagar today and immediately held discussions with top police and intelligence officials to assess the security situation,” sources said, as per media reports.
“The Intelligence agencies have received information that the militants and their handlers in Pakistan are frustrated due to the successful elimination of militants, particularly their top commanders, and are unable to carry out attacks in the Valley. However, there is a possibility that they may resort to attacking soft targets prior to the G20 meeting, which is a significant international event in the region,” they added.
The MHA and IB team, as per sources, will meet with senior civil and police officials to comprehensively finalize security arrangements ahead of and during the G20 meeting in the entire Jammu and Kashmir region, particularly in the Valley. The summit venue and the locations visited by G20 delegates will be placed under a 24×7 security net almost a week before the scheduled summit date. Along with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will provide security for the venue, places visited by delegates, and other vulnerable areas where militants could target. As per sources, all such areas will be fully secured.
According to sources, both the Central and Jammu and Kashmir Governments are committed to ensuring foolproof security arrangements for the upcoming G20 meeting. The visiting team, comprising officials from the MHA and IB, will also assess the general security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Intelligence agencies have expressed concerns about the possibility of militants striking in the lead-up to the summit, particularly in districts with little militant presence. The team is working to prevent any such incidents from occurring.
After the team returns to New Delhi, the MHA is likely to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on April 15 and 16,” sources said. “The meeting will cover topics such as the G20 summit and the upcoming annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine.
Despite the fact that the SASB has yet to announce dates for the pilgrimage, rumors suggest that the Yatra may last around 60 days this year. As a result, additional paramilitary forces may need to be deployed by the Union Home Ministry. Top civil and police officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Government are regularly reviewing all aspects of the G20 summit, including security, accommodation, and places to visit.
