Pakistan, June 7 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on Friday since a conflict with arch-rival Pakistan, opening a strategic railway line to the contested region.

Modi launched a string of projects worth billions of dollars for the occupied Muslim-majority territory, the centre of bitter rivalry between Pakistan and India 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.

"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 ...