DAREDEVIL DESERT RAJ

The heavenly beauty of Jaisalmer, embodying modern architectural heritage, has become the top choice for desert tourists, attracting art enthusiasts from India and abroad. Known as the Golden City, Jaisalmer has rapidly emerged on the tourism map, drawing a bumper influx of domestic and foreign tourists during the season. This surge in tourism has provided employment to thousands in the desert region. Beyond tourism, Jaisalmer has reached new heights in wind and solar energy, transforming its economy and environment.

Patriotism in every vein

Patriotism is ingrained in the veins of the residents of Jaisalmer. That is why in the wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, the residents here stood shoulder to shoulder with the army and cooperated exemplarily. They kept giving timely information about every activity of the Pakistani army in the border area to the Indian military system. Every call of the army was obeyed literally. The battle of Longewala in 1971 has been recorded in golden letters in the history of the Indian Army and Air Force. After this, even during the Kargil war, when a limited war was being fought in Jammu & Kashmir, thousands of soldiers were deployed on the border of Jaisalmer. Even at that time, the residents of Jaisalmer left no stone unturned in encouraging the army. Apart from this, India became a nuclear power on the land of Jaisalmer. In 1974 and 1998, India surprised the world by conducting nuclear tests in Pokhran. Even today, many tests are being conducted every year on the land of Jaisalmer.

Due to testing of war weapons throughout the year in different geographical conditions and weather conditions, the fear of Pokhran nuclear test has remained in the country and the world. After the tension with China, the strength of a dozen missiles has been increased here. Whether it is the bloodfreezing cold of the cold weather or the scorching heat that burns the body, the field firing range of Pokhran area of the border district adjoining the Pakistan border has earned recognition for its strength, technology and experience in the country and the world. Missiles spewing fire, roaring tanks and war weapons tearing the sky… No matter what the weather is, Pokhran field firing range spews fire all year round. So far, dozens of missiles and war weapons have been tested here in different weather conditions.

The country’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is continuously testing war weapons in the Pokhran field firing range.

In past one year, the sound of military weapons has shaken the ground and sky in the Pokhran Field Firing Range of Jaisalmer. The shots and explosions piercing the enemy’s hideouts have sent chills down the spine. Testing and maneuvers of different weapons have been done here many times. These include SANT missile, indigenous Bofors Dhanush gun, Pinaka rocket, Helina missile, indigenous ATAGS gun and Akash missile. Apart from this, in March, the Air Force conducted maneuvers with the fighter aircraft Rafale. Through testing and maneuvers, India has shown the strength of its military performance.

This year the biggest air military exercise ‘Gagan Shakti’ was conducted. All the air force stations of the country participated in it. About 10,000 air warriors of the Air Force took part in this exercise. All the airports of the Indian Air Force remained active during this exercise. Many fighter planes and helicopters including Tejas, Rafale, Sukhoi 30, Jaguar, Globemaster, Chinook, Apache, Prachand took part in it. Under ‘Gagan Shakti’, the Air Force exercise was conducted in different parts by jointly involving the northern and western fronts. In this, fighter planes and fighter helicopters of the Indian Air Force will fly from different air force bases and destroy the enemy by hitting the targets made in the Pokhran Field Firing Range of Rajasthan.

One of the largest field firing ranges of the country –Pokhran Field Firing Range, which came into the limelight after the serial nuclear tests in the year 1998, is one of the largest range areas of India.

–This range is divided into four parts AA, BA, C and D.
–Army exercises take place in the range area near Khetolai, Dholia and Lathi and Air Force exercises take place in the range area near Chandan area.
–Here war exercises are conducted throughout the year. Especially in the winter season, battalions from various parts of the country come here and war exercises are conducted.
–Testing of new cannons, guns, shells and modern weapons is also done here.

BSF deployed on 471-Km long international border

The country’s longest international border lies in the western district of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, spanning 471 km with 122 posts managed by the Rajasthan Frontier. Thousands of vigilant soldiers guard this border. The dedication of these soldiers is remarkable, whether in the harsh Siachen Glacier or the scorching Thar Desert. The Border Security Force (BSF) monitors Pakistan’s actions vigilantly. Since its establishment in 1965, the BSF has been the first line of defense and fought alongside the army in the 1971 war, deterring further attacks from Pakistan.

Suryaveer Singh The writer is a Correspondent