Rahul Gandhi Visits Poonch | May 23, 2025 — In a heartfelt gesture of solidarity, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit the border district of Poonch on Saturday, May 24, to meet with the families affected by the recent Pakistani shelling. This marks his second visit to Jammu and Kashmir in just over a month, following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh confirmed the visit through a post on social media platform X, stating, “Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri @RahulGandhi will be visiting Poonch tomorrow, May 24, to meet the families bereaved during the shelling by Pakistan very recently.”
According to local sources, Gandhi is expected to spend time with the families of those who lost their lives and those who have been displaced or injured due to the cross-border shelling. His visit is seen as a move to offer emotional support and bring national attention to the plight of civilians living under constant threat in border areas.
The Poonch sector has been on high alert for the past few weeks after a significant escalation along the Line of Control. On May 7, the Indian Army carried out precision strikes targeting nine terrorist hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke. In retaliation, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military positions on May 8, 9, and 10, prompting fierce counterattacks by Indian forces.
The intense military confrontation came to a halt on May 10, following a mutual understanding between the two nations to de-escalate tensions. However, the civilian cost of these hostilities remains grave. Many families in Poonch continue to grapple with loss, fear, and displacement.
During his previous visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam attack—which claimed the lives of 25 tourists and one local—Gandhi emphasized national unity in the face of terrorism. “The idea behind these terror strikes is to divide us. But we must stay united and strong to defeat such forces once and for all,” he had said.
As Rahul Gandhi prepares to meet the grieving families of Poonch, his visit is likely to resonate deeply across the nation. It underscores a continuing need to balance diplomatic resilience with compassion for those most directly impacted by the unrest.
With emotions still raw and tensions simmering, the visit also reaffirms the importance of political leaders showing up—not just in Parliament, but on the ground where people need them the most.