Around 5,000 veterans took part in a mega event in Poonch on Friday as the Army celebrated the 77th anniversary of the historic military link-up of Poonch, a border district of Jammu and Kashmir, with the rest of the country.
The Poonch Link-Up Day, a landmark event in the annals of Jammu and Kashmir, commemorates the successful military operation in 1948 during which the Indian Army linked the besieged Poonch with the rest of the country after months of isolation during the first Indo-Pak war.
“Today we come together to honour the courage, resilience and unbreakable bond that the Awam and the Indian Army have shared over the past 77 years,” said General Officer Commanding (GoC), 16 Corps, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva.
The GoC, who visited Poonch and led the event, observed that it was a unique chapter in military history.
It stood out for the resilience demonstrated and the remarkable fact that no territory exchanged hands a testament to the unwavering resolve of both the Indian Army and the people of Poonch.
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November 22 marks the 77th anniversary of the historic military link-up of Poonch with the rest of the country. On this day in 1948, the Indian Army, under the revered Brigadier Pritam Singh, successfully ended a grueling 15-month siege of the border town of Poonch. Despite facing hunger, disease and relentless attempts by the Pakistani Army to overrun the town, the indomitable spirit of the Poonch residents and the Indian Army prevailed.
"For the people of Poonch and the Indian Army, Poonch Link-Up Day is more than a commemoration it is a celebration of a living, breathing relationship," said a Defence spokesperson.
The district had been abuzz with activity for the past month, culminating in a series of vibrant events that reflected the festive spirit of the community, he said.