General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), visited Tanot near the India-Pakistan border in Jaisalmer to honor the efforts of the Indian Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) during Operation Sindoor. This visit, which took place on May 19, was marked by a formal ceremony that recognized the significant contributions of security personnel in executing the operation successfully.
Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, was a calculated military response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that resulted in the loss of multiple civilian lives. The operation involved precision strikes across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and is indicative of the Indian government’s evolving counter-terrorism strategies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his address, General Dwivedi praised the joint efforts of the Army and the BSF, emphasizing that their coordination played a vital role in the operation’s success and in ensuring robust border security in the western sector.
At the ceremony, General Dwivedi honored Shri P K Mishra, Assistant Commandant of the BSF Rajasthan Frontier, with a Commendation Disc for his exemplary leadership and significant contributions to border security. Personnel from both the Army and BSF attended the event in their operational attire, symbolizing their integrated approach to defending the nation’s frontiers.
The Tanot Mata Temple, the venue for the ceremony, holds great military and cultural significance. Soldiers and civilians alike revere it for its historical importance during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. Military folklore recounts how unexploded Pakistani shells fell near the temple but did not detonate, a phenomenon attributed to the blessings of Tanot Mata. These remnants of war are still exhibited in a museum at the temple, which has been maintained by the BSF since 1965.
General Dwivedi’s visit not only reaffirmed the commitment of the Army to secure India’s borders but also paid tribute to a symbol of military resilience and spiritual strength. The acknowledgment of BSF personnel underscored the paramilitary force’s essential role as the “First Line of Defence,” especially in periods of increased operational demand. The event at Tanot highlighted the unity and shared legacy that bind India’s armed forces in their collective mission to defend national sovereignty.
