Overview

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh honored veterans and families at South Block in New Delhi, hailing the 1965 outcome as a victory and saying Pakistan’s attempts at intimidation failed.
• Brigadier Arvinder Singh (Retd.) recalled the capture of Hajipir Pass, saying it shortened the route to Srinagar by nearly 200 km and brought about 500 sq km under Indian control that was later returned.
• Major Sudarshan Singh (Retd.) described breaching a canal to flood the Khemkaran sector at Asal Uttar, trapping Pakistani tanks in mud before Indian troops opened fire.
• Colonel H.C. Sharma (Retd.) recounted the night assault on Dograi near Lahore, saying Indian forces captured the town and seized two Pakistani tanks and seven machine guns.
• Veterans reiterated that Pakistan initiated the conflict and said Indian troops halted near Lahore because the mission was to defend, not to expand territory.