Security reviews took on a personal touch as Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi encountered a blast from the past—a retired subedar from his early command days—while touring Poonch’s sensitive border stretches. The Jammu visit from Friday spanned critical evaluations and morale-boosting engagements.
Day one unfolded at Jammu’s White Knight Corps, with in-depth analysis of threat postures and force configurations. Nagrota’s commanders unpacked counter-terror architectures and deployment tactics, painting a picture of fortified defenses.
Meetings with multi-agency leaders stressed collaborative vigilance. Saturday brought Gen Dwivedi to the pulsating heart of operations in Poonch forwards, where he applauded jawans’ tenacity and hyper-alert status.
Fate intervened at Kamsar village: a serendipitous meeting with Subedar (Hony Capt) Pervez Ahmad of 18 J&K Rifles, who served under Dwivedi during his 2002-2005 battalion leadership. A 1991 recruit, Pervez clocked 25 years before hanging up boots in 2019.
Retirement barely slowed him; in Operation Sindoor, he rallied to supply essentials, share vital local intel, and support comrades. Gen Dwivedi saluted this spirit with the Veteran Achiever Award, spotlighting ex-servicemen’s role as perpetual assets.
In recent terror neutralizations, such grassroots intelligence fused with inter-agency synergy has been game-changing. This reunion exemplifies the Indian Army’s bedrock: enduring loyalty from active duty to veteran ranks, safeguarding the nation ceaselessly.