Army Day 2020: Rare photos of Indian soldiers during Indo-Pak, Sino-Indian wars

Indian jawans at a post held by Pakistan Army troops during the 1999 Kargil war. The nation is celebrating the 72nd Army Day today in honour of the soldiers who serve the country selflessly and risk their lives to safeguard the borders. (Express archive)

The Victorious Indian Army Jawans of 18 Grenadiers rejoicing with the National Flag in their hands after recapturing the Tiger Hill in Drass sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Army Day is celebrated to mark Lt Gen K M Carriappa taking over as commander-in-chief of the Indian Army in 1949. He took over from General Francis Butcher, the last British commander-in-chief of India. The transfer of power from the British to India signifies an important event in the Indian history. (Express archive)

Soldiers carrying Weapons during 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan. On July 26, the nation remembers its brave heroes on the ocassion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. India emerged victorious in the Kargil conflict with Pakistan this day. The war that continued for over three months led to loss of lives both sides. (Express archive)

A Sea Hawk jet fighter taking off from the deck of INS Vikrant to pound Military installations in enemy held ports of Bangladesh during Indo-Pak 1971 war. By the time India gained independence, Cariappa had seen action in Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Burma and became the first Indian Officer to be given command of a unit in 1942. He also led the Indian forces on the Western Front during the Indo-Pak War of 1947 and successfully recaptured Zojila, Drass, and Kargil and established a linkup with Leh. (Express archive)

Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora, GOC-in-C Eastern Command, talks to jawans and officers at Comilla in Bangladesh during the war on December 8, 1971 (Source: PIB)

Frontline troops of the Indian Army fighting in Kasur sector of Pakistan during the 1971 war. The war was the product of a certain geopolitical and temporal context. The Indian Army had lost badly to the Chinese in 1962, which created a sense of false superiority in the Pakistan army. (Express archive)

Then PM Lal Bahadur Shastri with officers of 1 Strike Corps (Photo courtesy: Photo Division)

These frontline pictures were taken by an Indian Express photographer specially deputed to NEFA before the fall of Sela Indicative of the odds against which our jawans are fighting in NEFA the picture shows a truck being dragged along hilly terrain during Sino-Indian 1962 war. (Express archive)

Naik Rabi Lal Thapa commander of a post in the Pangong Lake area of Ladakh shakes hands with General Kaul during 1962 Sino-Indian war. (Express archive photo)

Soldiers carrying eqipment to the forward areas over the sleep and narrow path in the Walong sector in NEFA during Sino-Indian war. (Express archive photo)