Leh/Srinagar, July 25, 2026: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday visited the iconic Zojila Pass in Ladakh, where he interacted with Indian Army personnel and posed for photographs with them, lauding their courage, dedication and unwavering service under challenging high-altitude conditions.
The visit came as part of his two-day tour of the region to participate in the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorations at Drass. Singh arrived in Srinagar earlier in the day and was received at the Srinagar International Airport by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. He is scheduled to attend the main Vijay Diwas event at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass on July 26, where he will pay tributes to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the 1999 Kargil War.
Accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, the Defence Minister stopped at Zojila Pass while travelling towards Drass. He interacted with troops deployed in the area, posed for group photographs with soldiers (including under the Border Roads Organisation sign marking the elevation), and stood for pictures at the viewpoint. Video footage from the location shows him ascending the steps to the pass viewpoint amid overcast and misty weather before joining personnel for the photo session in front of the prominent blue BRO board that reads “You Are Standing at the Zojila Pass: 11649 FT.”
In his official post from the location, Singh simply shared an image with the caption “At Zojila Pass..”. Official updates and media reports confirmed that he specifically lauded the commitment and sacrifices of the personnel serving in the difficult terrain under extreme weather and operational conditions.
Zojila Pass (also known as Zoji La), located at an altitude of 11,649 feet (approximately 3,528 metres) on the Srinagar-Leh highway, holds both strategic and historical importance. It serves as a critical link between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. The pass is famous in military history as the site of India’s 1948 high-altitude tank battle during the operations to secure the region. Keeping the route open, especially through harsh winters, has long been a major challenge for the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which maintains the connectivity under Project Beacon.
The stop at Zojila formed part of Singh’s broader engagement with forward areas and troops during the visit. The two-day programme centres on the Kargil Vijay Diwas observances, which mark the successful culmination of Operation Vijay in 1999 that evicted Pakistani intruders from the Kargil heights.
Singh’s presence at the high mountain pass underscores the continued focus on troop morale, operational readiness in the northern sector, and the strategic importance of the Srinagar-Leh axis for both military logistics and civilian connectivity to Ladakh. The ongoing Zojila Tunnel project, once completed, is expected to provide all-weather connectivity and further reduce dependence on the seasonal pass.
The Defence Minister is expected to address the gathering at the Kargil War Memorial on Sunday and interact further with soldiers and veterans as part of the national tributes.
