Modi’s Kashmir Gesture Sneers At Pakistan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Kashmir the first since a deadly conflict with Pakistan marked a significant and highly symbolic moment in India’s modern political and strategic trajectory. In what is being called a bold political and infrastructural move, Modi inaugurated a major railway line through the contested Himalayan region, referring to Kashmir as “the crown jewel of India.”
This high-profile visit comes just weeks after the worst India-Pakistan confrontation in over two decades, a four-day military stand-off that took place in April and May. The conflict erupted following a deadly attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir on April 22, which New Delhi claims was orchestrated by Pakistan-backed militants an allegation Islamabad has denied. More than 70 lives were lost during the violent exchange of missile, drone, and artillery fire across the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing the two nations in the Kashmir region. A ceasefire was eventually reached on May 10, offering a temporary pause in tensions that have simmered since Partition in 1947.
Amid this volatile backdrop, Modi’s presence in Kashmir and his inauguration of a sweeping infrastructure initiative sent a clear signal not just to Pakistan, but to the global community of India’s unwavering grip over the disputed territory. The centrepiece of this message was the launch of the Chenab Bridge, touted by New Delhi as the “world’s highest railway arch bridge,” towering 359 metres (1,117 feet) above the riverbed. Certified by the Guinness World Records, the Chenab Bridge surpasses China’s Najiehe Railway Bridge and is a feat of engineering that has taken years to complete.
“This is a symbol and celebration of rising India,” Modi declared to an enthusiastic crowd, adding that the bridge and the larger rail project it anchors was a “grand festival of India’s unity and firm resolve.” Calling it an “extraordinary feat of architecture,” Modi highlighted its strategic significance: the bridge, part of a 272-km railway network, now connects Udhampur, Srinagar, and Baramulla. This route includes 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, effectively slicing travel time between Katra in the Jammu region and Srinagar in Kashmir to just three hours.
While the project is a major logistical breakthrough, it is also a calculated strategic move. For decades, access to Kashmir’s mountainous terrain was limited to dangerous mountain roads and intermittent air routes. The new rail line will significantly ease the movement of civilians and goods, and importantly military personnel and equipment. In a region where terrain has long been a tactical factor in conflict scenarios, this enhanced connectivity reshapes the strategic calculus.
Pakistan, which also claims Kashmir in full but controls only part of it, is unlikely to remain passive in response to Modi’s actions. Speaking at the rally, the Indian Prime Minister did not mince words. “Pakistan will never forget… its shameful loss,” he said, referring to the recent military exchanges. His rhetoric, deeply infused with nationalist sentiment, resonated with his political base while sending a clear warning to India’s adversaries.
The Modi administration’s aggressive infrastructure push in Kashmir is not confined to railways. The prime minister also announced additional financial aid for families affected by the recent conflict those who lost loved ones or whose homes were damaged during the shelling along the Line of Control. “Their troubles are our troubles,” Modi said, underlining the government’s commitment to rebuilding lives in the region.
This visit, and the projects unveiled during it, reflect more than just domestic development goals. They signify a strategic intent to solidify India’s control over Kashmir not only through military presence or legal measures but also by integrating it economically and logistically with the rest of the country.
For Modi, whose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently advocated for a hardline stance on Kashmir, the railway inauguration was more than a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. It was a declaration of purpose. The message is unequivocal: Kashmir is and will remain an integral part of India. Infrastructure development is now the frontline of this assertion.
Yet, the risks remain. Kashmir continues to simmer with unrest, not only from cross-border threats but also from within. For 70years, rebel groups have waged an insurgency against Indian rule, demanding either independence or union with Pakistan. The improved transport links may make troop deployments easier, but they also increase the risk of sabotage and raise questions about how security will be maintained over such a vast and newly connected area.
Nonetheless, Modi’s Kashmir visit is a defining moment. By physically striding across the Chenab Bridge to inaugurate it for rail traffic, he demonstrated his government’s resolve to transform the region not just symbolically, but structurally. It was, in essence, a bridge between India’s turbulent past in Kashmir and its aspirational future.
Whether this bold infrastructural and political initiative will bring lasting peace, greater economic integration, or more friction with Pakistan remains to be seen. But what is undeniable is that Modi has redrawn the map not just in engineering terms, but in geopolitical ones.
