WORLD NEWS | Jaishankar pays tribute to Indian soldiers on Vijay Diwas 51st anniversary

New Delhi [India]Dec 16 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishanakar saluted the soldiers on the occasion of Vijay Diwas and said India will be forever grateful for their service and sacrifice.

Jaishankar tweeted: “On the occasion of Vijay Divas, join the nation in saluting our brave Indian Armed Forces whose valor led to a decisive victory in the 1971 war. We will always be grateful for their service and sacrifice.”

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Fifty years ago, the day marked the largest military surrender since World War II, when 93,000 soldiers of the Pakistani army laid down their arms in front of Indian troops – leading to the liberation of Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan).

This day is marked as “Vijay Diwas” every year. On December 16, 1971, Lieutenant General Amir Abdullah Khan Nyazi, Chief Martial Law Administrator of East Pakistan and Commander-in-Chief of the Army in East Pakistan, signed the instrument of surrender.

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Meanwhile, in New Delhi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Defense Minister General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief of Staff General Manoj Pande, Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Chaudhry Vice Admiral Gomard and Vice Admiral of the Indian Navy also laid a wreath at the National War Memorial.

Besides them, Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief (DGP) Dilbagh Singh also laid a wreath at Balidan Stambha in Jammu to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

On Thursday, President Droupadi Murmu attended an “at home” reception at Army House in the national capital on the eve of “Vijay Diwas” commemorating India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

“President Droupadi Murmu attended the ‘At Home’ reception at Army House on the eve of ‘Vijay Diwas’,” the president’s official Twitter handle posted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present at the event. “Attended ‘At Home’ reception at Army House on eve of ‘Vijay Diwas’. India will never forget the courage of our Armed Forces in winning the 1971 war,” PM Modi tweeted wrote.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh was also present. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)