Union Home Minister P Chidambaram arrived in Jammu on Wednesday evening on a two-day visit for a detailed review of the overall situation in the state.
The home minister's visit comes days after he praised state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his firm handling of the situation in the run up to the Republic Day.
The state government had foiled the BJP's attempts to hoist the tri-colour in the sensitive Lal Chowk locality in Srinagar.
The visit also assumes significance as the interlocutors are scheduled to submit their recommendations to the Union government this month.
Chidambaram was received at the airport by deputy
The home minister had toured the state in September last year heading a parliamentary delegation, which visited the state to take stock of the situation in the wake of months of summer unrest that claimed 112 lives and left hundreds others wounded.
The unrest had also caused huge economic losses to the Valley following frequent shutdowns and curfews at the peak of the tourist season last year.
The home minister is scheduled to visit Kishtwar town in Jammu region and will also hold detailed discussions with the state chief minister and top civil and security force officers on Thursday
