Jammu: General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based Chinar Corps Lieutenant General Prashant Srivastava on Thursday asserted that the strategic and tactical lessons from the 1965 Hajipir operation continue to hold critical relevance in today’s dynamic, multi-domain, and multi-layered battlefield environment.
Lt Gen Srivastava was delivering the keynote address during a symposium titled “Hajipir – Valour Beyond the Pass” which was held in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The battlefield symposium, held at Thimayya Hall in Baramulla to commemorate the diamond jubilee of the 1965 Indo-Pak War, was organised by the Baramulla-based Dagger Division of the Army’s Chinar Corps in collaboration with the United Service Institution of India (USI).
The battle of Hajipir, fought during the 1965 Indo-Pak War, was a significant military operation in which the Indian Army captured the strategically vital Hajipir Pass in north Kashmir’s Uri sector. The Hajipir pass was later returned to Pakistan following the Tashkent Agreement.
The event at Baramulla brought together veterans, defence experts, strategic analysts, serving officers and members of the wider academic and defence community to reflect upon, analyse and derive lessons from one of the most pivotal achievements in India’s military history, Srinagar based defence spokesman said. The symposium commenced with an inaugural address by General Officer Commanding, Dagger Division who saluted the valiant troops who took part in the operation “The Battle of Hajipir stands as a testament to the grit, sacrifice and unwavering commitment of our soldiers, their legacy continues to inspire today’s generation,” he said. The keynote address by Lieutenant General Srivastava highlighted the enduring significance of the Hajipir operation.He recounted the resolve and valour shown by Indian soldiers in extremely adverse conditions and underscored that the lessons can be applied even in today’s multi domain and multi layered battlefield. The event progressed with presentations by decorated veterans, engaging panel discussions on battlefield leadership, operational planning, the display of personal memorabilia and rare archival footage/photographs, the spokesman said.The event offered a vivid portrayal of the heroism that defined the Hajipir assault. The panellists recounted stories of battlefield improvisation, enduring adverse weather, continuous enemy fire and the jubilation of the final victory. The session concluded with tributes to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. A special session was devoted to sharing personal accounts from veterans who participated in the battle, many revisiting the site for the first time in decades. Emotional recollections reinforced the values of camaraderie and sacrifice, leaving a lasting impression on the younger generation of soldiers and attendees.
In his closing remarks, Maj Gen PK Goswami, United Service Institution of India (USI), reiterated the commitment to honouring the legacy of the fallen brave hearts and congratulated Chinar Corps for hosting such a vivid symposium.
