India's Modi opens strategic railway in contested 'crown jewel' Kashmir
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, opened a strategic railway line to Kashmir he called 'the crown jewel of India'. - Photo: EPA-EFE
SRINAGAR (India): Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to Kashmir on Friday (June 6) since a conflict with arch-rival Pakistan, opening a strategic railway line to the contested region he called "the crown jewel of India".
Modi launched a string of projects worth billions of dollars for the divided Muslim-majority territory, the centre of bitter rivalry between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947.
Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan fought a four-day conflict last month, their worst standoff since 1999, before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10.
"Pakistan will never forget... its shameful loss," the Hindu nationalist premier told crowds a month since India launched strikes on its neighbour after an attack on tourists in Kashmir.
"Friends, today's event is a grand festival of India's unity and firm resolve," Modi said after striding across the soaring bridge to formally launch it for rail traffic.
"This is a symbol and celebration of rising India," he said of the Chenab Bridge which connects two mountains.
New Delhi calls the Chenab span the "world's highest railway arch bridge", sitting 359 metres (1,117 feet) above a river.
While several road and pipeline bridges are higher, Guinness World Records confirmed that Chenab trumps the previous highest railway bridge, the Najiehe in China.
- 'Our troubles' -
Modi said the railway was "an extraordinary feat of architecture" that "will improve connectivity" by providing the first rail link from the Indian plains up to mountainous Kashmir.
With 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, the new railway runs for 272 kilometres (169 miles) and connects Udhampur, Srinagar and Baramulla.
It is expected to halve the travel time between the town of Katra in the Hindu-majority Jammu region and Srinagar, the main city in Kashmir, to around three hours.
The new route will facilitate the movement of people and goods, as well as troops, that was previously possible only via treacherous mountain roads and by air.
Modi's Hindu nationalist government revoked Kashmir's limited autonomy and took the state under direct rule in 2019.
Pakistan's foreign ministry in a statement said India's "claims of development... ring hollow against the backdrop of an unprecedented military presence, suppression of fundamental freedoms, arbitrary arrests, and a concerted effort to alter the region's demography".
Around 150 people protested against the project on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
"We want to tell India that building bridges and laying roads in the name of development will not make the people of Kashmir give up their demand for freedom," said Azir Ahmad Ghazali, who organised the rally attended by Kashmiris who fled unrest on the Indian side in the 1990s.
"In clear and unequivocal terms, we want to say to the Indian government that the people of Kashmir have never accepted India's forced rule."
More than 70 people were killed in missile, drone and artillery fire during last month's conflict.
The fighting was triggered by an April 22 attack on civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing, a charge denied by Islamabad.
Rebel groups in Indian-run Kashmir have waged an insurgency for 35 years demanding independence for the territory or its merger with Pakistan.
Modi also announced further government financial support for families whose relatives were killed, or whose homes were damaged, during the brief conflict --- mainly in shelling along the heavily militarised de facto border with Pakistan, known as the Line of Control.
"Their troubles are our troubles," Modi said. - AFP
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Pilgrimage isn't measured in miles, but in our desire for God. This account is to accompany, showing what's possible on your own sacred path. If Rome feels too far, let these words carry you. Faith moves swiftly when borne by love. Journey with us through these memories, because the spirit of pilgrimage transcends geography, rooted in the love that draw us closer to each other and to God. Whether in Rome or your parish chapel, may these reflections stir your heart toward grace. Pilgrimage Planning: Less Swiss Guard, More Budget Guard Let's start with the practical. Pilgrimage is a spiritual investment but financial prudence is wise. We incorporated our pilgrimage into other family plans, blending faith, family and frugality, 'killing a few birds with one stone'. Retirement certainly helps; no distractions, allowing focus on what really matters. A pilgrimage begins long before takeoff. I researched the four basilicas – their history, saints and relics, using Google, YouTube and Vatican websites. It was also a spiritual sightseeing – faith with context. Modern travel is streamlined: passport, smartphone (and charger!) and credit card with cash becoming obsolete. Group travel helped us save and stay safe. AirBnB, Agoda and offer great stays. Rome has its challenges. Pickpockets and scammers thrive in crowded areas like the basilicas. Stay alert, keep valuables close and look out for one another. Crossing streets is a test of nerves with cars, buses, e-bikes and scooters zipping in every direction. So stay sharp and cautious. Rome's Metro is simple and Uber is an option, especially in group. Ensure someone in your group is 'App-able' for transport and bookings. Every pilgrimage needs a map-reader and a rosary prayer leader. The free, user-friendly Jubilaeum25 App helps you manage bookings for basilicas and events, saving you time at entrances. Security checks are standard and unregistered visitors may face longer queues. Stay hydrated and refill your bottle water at public water fountains. After your pilgrimage, collect your Testimonium – the official Jubilee 2025 certificate – from the Info Point near St. Peter's Square. Personalised with your name, it's a testament of faith renewed and grace received. Our Journey Through the Four Holy Doors of Basilicas We followed a particular sequence in visiting the four Major Basilicas, but there's no fixed order. Grace flows regardless the route you take. Allow each basilica the space it deserves, to absorb its beauty, reflect on its meaning and pray without rush. Rome is a living museum of faith. Let your pilgrimage be a gradual, personal encounter with God, one sacred threshold at a time. My family's pilgrimage to Rome in Jubilee Year 2025 1. St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica: The Apostle's Monumental Resting Place Our pilgrimage began at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where the great Apostle to the Gentiles is buried. This vast, solemn space felt like a sanctuary carved out of time – majestic, quiet and heavy with Saint Paul's enduring voice. The basilica stretches wide, in size and in spirit, bearing the strength of a man who once persecuted but later proclaimed Christ with passion and love. Just beyond the Holy Door, beneath the altar, lies Paul's tomb – his presence felt not only in stone, but in the golden mosaics and bold scriptural inscriptions. Here, we prayed for courage to run our race with endurance, as St Paul did, and to 'keep the faith.' Inside, the silence felt alive, deep and steady like a heartbeat. In that stillness, our family's journey mirrored Paul's: perseverance through trials, openness to renewal and a hope that doesn't give up. We prayed for boldness to live the truth, even if our lives are not free of shipwrecks. As we stepped through the Holy Door, I noticed a tear in my wife's eye – not from sorrow, but perhaps from quiet gratitude: for the road that led us here, and the silent prayers whispered along the way. 2. St. Mary Major Basilica: The Marian Heart of Rome and Final Resting Place of Pope Francis Next, we visited Rome's oldest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary – the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four major basilicas that stands as a lasting testament to the Catholics deep devotion to Mary. At its heart is the icon 'Salus Populi Romani', venerated for centuries, and especially by the late Pope Francis, who prayed before and after his every apostolic journey. It is fitting that this basilica has become his final resting place – a reflection of his Marian devotion and humble service. To kneel before this icon and pray near his tomb is to witness a powerful bond – love for the Virgin Mary for Catholics and service to her Son. As pilgrims walk beneath the golden mosaics and through centuries-old chapels, they are drawn into the same trust that shaped Mary's fiat and Pope Francis's life. In this sacred space, Mary still draws her children close – and now, one of her most faithful sons rests in her care. Passing through the Holy Door here felt like coming home. We remembered our own mothers. As I lit a candle, I thought of Mary at Bethlehem and Calvary, I pray for my mother and felt again how love always carries both joy and sorrow. There is a good side tour nearby. A short stroll away is the Basilica of Saint Praxedes, built over the home of a saint who cared for persecuted Christians. Its Chapel of St. Zeno glows with Byzantine mosaics, and holds a relic believed to be from the pillar where Jesus was scourged. In its quiet simplicity, it offers a moment of deep, personal reflection far from the crowds, close to the heart. The late Pope Francis' favourite image 'Salus Populi Romani' at St Mary Major Basilica 3. St. John Lateran Basilica: The Pope's Cathedral This is the Rome's true cathedral, the official seat of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. Dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the basilica houses several important relics, including the heads of Saints Peter and Paul, a table believed to be used for the Last Supper and a fragment of the original altar used by Saint Peter. Its façade declares 'Mother and Head of all churches in Rome and the world'. Inside, colossal statues of the apostles seem to walk beside you toward the Holy Door. It's like an architectural catechism, with every column a profession of faith. The vast nave was humbling and inviting. We stood, letting that embrace wash over us as we prayed for unity for the Church, the world, and for the daily struggles of family life: chores, schedules, clashing views. Unity begins with everyday grace, and in that sacred space, we asked for strength to keep choosing it, and constant reconciliation with one another. 4. St. Peter's Basilica: The Rock and a Sacred Encounter with the Shepherd Finally, we arrived at St. Peter's Square in Vatican. The square felt like a spiritual amphitheatre with its colonnades embracing pilgrims from every nation on earth. Entering the Holy Door there was humbling and the silence spoke louder than song. I thought of St Peter, crucified upside down nearby. Standing at his tomb, I felt our family being gently grafted into the rootstock of faith. At the door, our son stood between us – fragile, yet brave. As we walked through, I whispered a father's prayer: raw, wordless trust for his healing. Each step drew us closer to Michelangelo's Pietà, to centuries of Catholic heritage carved in stone, to St. Peter himself. Tears came of awe, gratitude and hope. This basilica became the heart of our pilgrimage. On Easter Sunday, we witnessed Pope Francis celebrate the Resurrection in St. Peter's Square. In his popemobile, frail yet luminous, the Pope blessed the world in his Urbi et Orbi message. The moment was electric, sacred as our children beamed. We didn't know it would be our last time seeing him alive. News of his passing came the next morning, and Easter Sunday took on new meaning, a final glimpse of a beloved shepherd. Two days later, under the scorching sun, we joined thousands to bid farewell. Inside the basilica, kneeling by his body, it felt intimate – a goodbye wrapped in grace. St. Peter's wasn't just a Holy Door. For us, it was a sacred encounter of blessing and final farewell – where joy and sorrow wove together into a lasting memory of love. ( Also read: ) A Moment of Grace: When God Sends His Angels The day my wife and I came to bid farewell to Pope Francis, the sun was merciless, and the queue at St. Peter's stretched endlessly. We arrived at 8:00 am; the basilica doors open at 10:00 am, and our flight was at 6:10 pm. For hours, we inched forward in the heat. Some elderly pilgrims fainted, tempers flared and queue-jumpers tested our patience. Thirsty, exhausted and spiritually stretched, a deeper current ran -reverence, resilience and a shared desire to honour a beloved shepherd. Then came a stranger, Fr. Albert Musinguzi, a cheerful Ugandan priest who offered to take a photo, We exchanged contacts. A small kindness or so we thought. We kept bumping into him all day, like a thread of grace weaving through the crowd. After nearly four hours, we reached the basilica, paid our respects; and my wife and I got 'separated'. In a sea of thousands, my wife vanished, her phone already dead, mine at 10%. Our kids were waiting. We hadn't checked out from our accommodation. I was now a husband lost in church. Panic set in – until grace, in a clerical collar, returned. 'Mary is with me,' Fr. Albert said on his phone. Amidst the chaos, he found her. A divine appointment, not coincidence. We believe God spoke through his presence and compassion through Fr. Albert, our angel in Roman heat. The trials didn't let up thereafter. First, a delayed check-out set our schedule back, throwing the day into disarray. Then, an ATM swallowed one of our cards – an infuriating inconvenience in a foreign country. But the most dramatic blow came next: we missed our flight. The cost of a new ticket was astronomical, and for a moment, it felt like we had fallen from a spiritual high into the chaos of logistical despair. And yet, through all of it, grace endured. Against all odds, we managed to return to London without paying a single penny more. It felt nothing short of miraculous – a quiet reminder that even in the most tangled circumstances, unseen hands can still guide us home. In the storm, we began to see it: small mercies, quiet reassurances, strangers turned helpers. God's grace is never late. It often wears human faces, works through dead phones, speaks softly and renders kindness through angels in plain clothes. Kindred Spirits Along the Way: With youth pilgrims, nuns from Argentina and our human angel, Fr Albert Musinguzi from Uganda. Heartfelt Moments and Family Grace Perhaps, no pilgrimage is complete without laughter, anxieties and unexpected blessings. It drew our family closer, to God and to one another. Amid the basilicas' grandeur, we found something even more beautiful: the quiet companionship of faith. Holding hands in prayer, helping each other up steps, taking turns leading the reflection and prayers – these were the true treasures. As we completed our journey, I realised we hadn't just walked through doors, but thresholds of grace. We carried our intentions, joys, aches and hopes – and laid them at God's feet. We met fellow pilgrims – each with their own story and prayer. What struck us most was the warmth of strangers. We reached out to young people, elderly nuns and weary travelers – and kindness was returned, again and again. Pilgrimage reminds us: hearts open when we do. For me, as husband and father, this was more than symbolic. It was where faith met family – where Rome's timeless beauty embraced the fragile, enduring love we carry for one another. We left with lighter hearts, not because the path was easy, but because mercy met us at every door. If you're discerning a similar journey, Rome's Holy Doors are within reach – and truly transformative. If Rome feels too far, remember your local Holy Doors are sacred too, blessed and open to grace. Go for it. For Catholics, the God who opens Rome's Holy Doors is the same God who opens the door to our hearts, our homes and our daily lives. His mercy knows no borders. May this story stir your spirit and may your pilgrimage, wherever it leads, renew your soul with the quiet joy of walking with God.
