In a significant demonstration of India’s commitment to enhancing its security capabilities, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Army’s Northern Command, conducted a visit to the Strike One Corps headquarters located in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. This visit was particularly crucial in light of increasing regional tensions following the tragic Pahalgam terrorist attack in April 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, primarily Hindu pilgrims.
During his time at the headquarters, Lt Gen Sharma was provided with a comprehensive briefing regarding the operational readiness of the Strike One Corps, renowned as India’s leading mechanized formation. The corps is vital to the country’s offensive military strategy and is integral to its rapid response capabilities, especially along the Line of Control (LoC). Expressing his commendations for the corps’ innovative approaches and high levels of morale, Lt Gen Sharma highlighted the continued necessity for vigilance to maintain operational superiority in the face of evolving security threats.
As part of the visit, the Northern Army Commander inspected a transit camp managed under the Northern Command, where he engaged with soldiers, acknowledging their essential role in ensuring efficient logistics and welfare services for troops traversing this strategically sensitive region. Demonstrating a commitment to inter-service collaboration, Lt Gen Sharma also visited the Udhampur Air Force Station, which hosts the No. 153 Helicopter Unit of the Indian Air Force. This base gained recognition during the 1999 Kargil War when Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena became the first female IAF officer to serve in a combat zone.
Speaking to personnel at the air station, Lt Gen Sharma praised their professionalism and stressed the significance of synergy between the Army and the Air Force in safeguarding the nation’s northern frontiers. He also pointed out the advancements in modern warfare, reflecting the Indian Army’s modernization efforts, including newly upgraded camouflage uniforms designed for enhanced operational efficiency across diverse terrains.
The visit is timely, given the backdrop of the Pahalgam attack, initially attributed to the Resistance Front (TRF), a nefarious proxy group linked to organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. Although the TRF later retracted its claim, alleging interference by Indian intelligence, security experts assert that the attack aligns with past patterns traced to Pakistan-based terror groups, reminiscent of incidents like the 2016 Uri attack and the 2019 Pulwama bombing, both of which provoked robust military reactions from India.
Analysts suggest that the Northern Command’s enhanced focus on operational readiness, troop mobility, and modernization is congruent with India’s broader defense strategy, especially amid ongoing cross-border threats and diplomatic tensions with Pakistan.
Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma’s visit to Udhampur serves as a testament to the Indian Army’s steadfast resolve to uphold national interests, boost troop morale, and ensure effective coordination across military services in one of the country’s most strategically critical areas.
