Taranjit Singh Sandhu: India committed to taking care of its armed forces’ veterans: Ambassador Sandhu

India is dedicated to taking good care of its armed forces’ veterans in the identical manner as they’ve taken care of the safety of the nation, India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has stated as he felicitated the ex-servicemen dwelling in America, together with those that fought within the Kargil struggle.

Recognising the companies of Indian armed forces’ veterans, the Indian Embassy right here organised ‘Varishtha Yoddha’, an occasion to honour these ex-servicemen.

Greater than 140 folks, together with some distinguished veterans who had fought in varied wars and their households, attended the occasion right here on Sunday, a day forward of the Independence Day of america.

“As India marks 75 years of Independence, privileged to host & felicitate Veterans of Indian Armed Forces within the US & households as we speak. Their devotion & dedication formed India’s Defence & Safety and is now shaping the India- US partnership,” Sandhu tweeted.

Addressing the occasion, Sandhu stated: “Pals, you’ve served and sacrificed for mom India, with the utmost sense of obligation and selflessness. You and your loved ones members as part of the 4 million-strong Indian group are instrumental in strengthening India-US ties throughout a variety of sectors,” Sandhu stated.

“We stay dedicated to taking good care of our veterans in the identical manner as they’ve taken care of the safety of our nation,” he stated.

Sandhu stated it was a matter of delight, privilege and honour for him to be part of the particular gathering.

“Whereas no recognition and award can do justice to your contributions, as we speak’s occasion in a small manner expresses our respect and gratitude and tells you that we’re right here for you,” he stated in his admiration for the veterans.

“There are folks on this room, who’ve fought for India in 1948, 1962, 1965 or 1971, 1985, the Kargil struggle in 1999 and in quite a few different operations,” he stated.

“At the moment’s Varishtha Yoddha occasion is our humble effort to recognise the sacrifice and repair of our veterans and honour them for his or her patriotism, dedication and willingness to serve and sacrifice all for the nation.”

Sandhu stated Indian veterans, wherever they go, carry the very best requirements of obligation, self-discipline and professionalism for which Indian armed forces are identified.

“Our veterans dwelling within the USA stay the flag-bearers of the traditions of our armed forces and proceed to encourage the Indian group,” he stated. The India-US strategic partnership is enriched by their knowledge, onerous work and excessive ethical values, he added.

In his handle, Sandhu stated the defence partnership between the US and India has been instrumental in intensifying a wide range of pacts between them, together with these associated to sharing of defence know-how and cooperation in maritime safety and counter-piracy.

India has been designated as a ‘Main Defence Associate’ by the US and conducts extra army workout routines with the US than with some other nation.

At the moment, an Indian naval contingent, together with a naval ship, is in Hawaii to take part within the RIMPAC naval train, Sandhu advised the veterans.

Over the past decade, he stated, India has procured defence-related acquisitions from the US value over USD 20 billion.

“At the moment, Indian forces are working US defence platforms, together with transport planes, helicopters, howitzers, ships and a variety of different gentle tools a lot of which have been absolutely deployed in operational and humanitarian makes use of, together with through the COVID pandemic to ship assist and transport medical provides,” stated the Indian envoy.

“According to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, we’re transferring ahead leveraging our comparative benefits and the chance for defence industrial collaboration, particularly to innovate, co-develop and co-produce for India and for the world,” he stated.