General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), visited the Tanot near the India-Pakistan border in Jaisalmer on May 19 to honor the Indian Army and Border Security Force (BSF) for their coordinated efforts during Operation Sindoor. The visit to the temple, which holds deep military and cultural significance, was marked by a formal ceremony recognizing the contributions of security personnel in the successful execution of the operation.
Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, was India’s calibrated military response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed multiple civilian lives. The mission, executed with precision strikes across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), is emblematic of the Indian government’s evolving counter-terrorism doctrine under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. General Dwivedi commended the joint operations conducted by the Army and BSF, citing their coordination as crucial to the mission’s success and to maintaining robust border security in the western sector.
At the event, General Dwivedi presented a Commendation Disc to Shri P K Mishra, Assistant Commandant of the BSF Rajasthan Frontier, for his exemplary leadership and contribution to border security. Personnel from both the Army and BSF attended the ceremony in operational attire, underscoring their integrated efforts in defending the nation’s frontiers.
The Tanot Mata Temple, the site of the event, is revered by soldiers and civilians alike for its legendary role during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. According to military folklore, unexploded Pakistani shells landed near the temple but failed to detonate, a miracle attributed to the blessings of Tanot Mata. These war relics are still displayed in a museum at the temple, which has been under the stewardship of the BSF since 1965.
General Dwivedi’s visit to the site not only reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to securing India’s borders but also paid homage to a symbol of military resilience and spiritual strength. The recognition of BSF personnel further highlighted the paramilitary force’s central role as the “First Line of Defence,” especially in times of heightened operational activity. The event at Tanot underscored the unity of purpose and shared legacy that binds India’s armed forces in the defense of national sovereignty.
