The United Service Institution of India was founded in 1870 by a soldier scholar, Colonel (later Major General) Sir Charles MacGregor. The story of its growth is the story of the growth of the Indian Armed Forces. It was founded for ‘furtherance of interest and knowledge in the art, science and literature of the Defence Services.’
Major General PK Goswami, VSM (Retd), Brigadier (Dr) Rajat Mohan Bhatt, and Colonel Vikas Kumar, SM
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”
- George Santayana
To commemorate the diamond jubilee of the Victory at Haji Pir, a Battlefield Symposium titled—Haji Pir: Valour Beyond Pass—was organised by the Indian Army’s Dagger Division, in collaboration with the United Service Institution of India (USI), at Baramulla on 09 Aug 2025. The Battle of Haji Pir, fought during the Indo–Pak War of 1965, remains one of the most audacious mountain operations in the Indian military history. Its capture not only blunted Pakistan’s misadventure to regain Kashmir but also demonstrated the decisive impact of junior leadership and operational audacity in high-altitude terrain. Capture of Haji Pir was not only a tactical triumph but also a strategic masterstroke, and the rest is history. This event brought together veterans who had fought the battle, along with senior commanders, academia, and civil society representatives to reflect upon the conduct of operations and the enduring relevance of Haji Pir. This occasional paper, structured around the proceedings of the symposium, reconstructs the battle through the voices of those who lived it.