JAMMU: Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday visited forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch sector and assessed deployment posture, surveillance measures and readiness of deployed formations.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on Friday attended a high-level security review chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and also visited the headquarters of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps to assess the operational preparedness in the region.
“The COAS visited forward areas of Poonch sector to review operational preparedness. He assessed deployment posture, surveillance measures and security arrangements, and reviewed the overall readiness of formations deployed in the sector,” Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Army wrote on X.
During the visit, Gen Dwivedi interacted with troops and lauded the high standards of professionalism and readiness demonstrated by the soldiers deployed in the challenging terrain, commending their unwavering dedication and exceptional preparedness.
Officials said the Army chief visited the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri and was briefed by senior officers on the ground.
Gen Dwivedi met with field commanders of the Army and officers of other security agencies, officials said, adding that he took stock of the security situation, both along the LoC as well as in hinterland areas, in view of ongoing counter-terror operations in Poonch.
An official said that during the visit, the Army Chief also stopped at Kamsar village in Poonch, where he met Subedar (Honorary Captain) Parvez Ahmed (Retired) of 18 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. General Dwivedi and the veteran JCO had served together on multiple occasions, including during the period when the Army Chief commanded the battalion between 2002 and 2005.
He said that during ‘Operation Sindoor,’ Parvez played a significant role in supporting deployed troops by assisting with logistics and local coordination, drawing on his familiarity with the area and long association with the unit. His efforts, carried out at personal risk during periods of heightened tension, earned him recognition from the Army.
In recognition of his continued contribution to society and his support during ‘Operation Sindoor,’ the Army Chief felicitated him with the Veteran Achiever Award during the visit. Family members, ex-servicemen and local residents were present on the occasion.
Several other veterans and civilians including women and children from the region also met the Army Chief during the visit. The exchanges were informal, reflecting the close bond between serving personnel, former soldiers and civilians in the border districts of Jammu and Kashmir
Later, he chaired a security review meeting at Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) Romeo headquarters in Rajouri to assess the situation in the twin districts, officials said.
