Jammu/Udhampur, June, 17 (Scoop News) – The Raising Day of the Northern Command was commemorated in a solemn manner today at Udhampur by laying of a wreath at the War Memorial by the GOC-in-C Northern Command, Lt Gen BS Jaswal.
On this occasion all ranks remembered their comrades in arms and paid homage to the 9710 personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice.
According to defence spokesman, the Indian Northern Army is committed to ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of country in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and to usher in peace and prosperity by checkmating the menace of terrorism unleashed by forces inimical to the nation.
The Northern Army is mandated to ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country all along the borders in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and to create conditions of peace and prosperity by subjugating terrorism spawned by forces inimical to our nation, defence spokesman said.
Defence spokesman said that the raising of Northern Command has its origins in the history of the Indo – Pak War of 1971. After the declaration of ceasefire, the requirement of operationalising a separate Northern Command was fulfilled on 17 Jun 1972, essentially to meet security concerns in the northern part of the country. Lieutenant General PS Bhagat, VC, PVSM was the first General Officer Commanding-in-Chief. The present GOC-in-C Lt Gen BS Jaswal, PVSM, AVSM**, VSM took over Northern Command on 01 Oct 2009. The Command has been in the operational mode since inception and has participated in and conducted a large number of high and low intensity conflicts. Operation Vijay was also fought on the formidable heights of Drass, Kargil and Batalik.
Always in combat, continuous and periodic upgrades with the latest in equipment and weapons are provided to the troops, whose fighting skills are honed to perfection for the exacting tasks they undertake as a matter of course. The terrain is inhospitable and the climatic conditions are unparalled anywhere else in the world where an army operates. This in itself is a challenge to sustain and to maintain. Jawans are provided with the best possible habitat, clothing and food and the logistics system, which operates with proverbial efficiency, caters for their every need. Medical facilities are constantly upgraded and cater to their requirements as far forward as possible, upto the posts. This is coupled with an extremely responsive evacuation chain, which has resulted in an encouraging decline in casualty rates.
Continuous upgradation of surface and communication infrastructure has ineffect, apart from providing to the basic requirements of the populace in the remotest of areas, also elevates the quality of life of the AWAM.
Today, the Northern Command is in the forefront of the nation’s efforts to counter the scourge of terrorism and the proxy war engendered from across, in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a constant as the North Star which guides its destinies, in its commitment to the nation. Officers and men of Northern Command are ‘Mountain warriors ever steadfast in operations’.