US Ambassador Sergio Gor and Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, head of the U.S Indo-Pacific Command, visited the Indian Army Western Command headquarters on Monday.
They discussed strategic security issues along India’s western front with Lt. General Manoj Kumar Katiyar.
In an X post Western Command, the Indian Army said, “US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor @USAmbIndia and #USINDOPACOM Commander, Adm Samuel J. Paparo, @sjpaparo visited HQ Western Command and held substantive discussions with Lt Gen #ManojKumarKatiyar, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, Army Commander, #WesternCommand, on strategic security dynamics along India’s Western Front,” the Western Command of the Indian Army said in a post on X.
The US envoys’ visit to the Western Command has sparked concerns primarily from India’s Opposition parties, who allege it reflects the Modi government’s prioritisation of American interests over national security. Critics highlight the timing near the Pakistan border, overseen by the command, as potentially compromising, especially post-Operation Sindoor last year.
Foreign Envoys at Indian Commands
Foreign envoys have occasionally visited Indian military commands as part of diplomatic and defence exchanges, though such trips to sensitive frontline headquarters like Western Command remain rare.
US Indo-Pacific commanders have previously toured Indian naval bases, signaling growing military-to-military ties. Indian officials have reciprocated with visits to US facilities like the Pentagon, underscoring mutual strategic interests.
In the recent past, US Indo-Pacific Command leaders like Admiral John C. Aquilino visited Indian naval bases in 2021 and 2019.
French envoys, including diplomatic advisor Emmanuel Bonne, engaged at Eastern Command during strategic dialogues in 2026.
Australian counterparts like Lt. General Simon Stuart visited in 2025. QUAD partner delegations, including US and Australian officers, toured the Andaman & Nicobar Command in 2024.
The Strategic Importance of the Indian Army’s Western Command
The Indian Army’s Western Command remains crucial for its strategic importance. Headquartered in Chandimandir near Chandigarh, it guards India’s border with Pakistan from Jammu to Gujarat. Nicknamed the “Steel Shield,” it oversees Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu region, and parts of Rajasthan.
The command played key roles in the 1947, 1965, and 1971 wars with Pakistan, halting advances and enabling logistics for the 1999 Kargil conflict. It also led to Operation Sindoor in 2025 against terror camps in Pakistan.
It manages over 200 bases, advanced surveillance, and indigenous drones for self-reliance.
Gor’s visit to one of India’s most crucial commands underscores deepening India-US strategic ties with building on envoy exchanges, tariff cuts, and trade deals.
Yet it carries risks; the US maintains close military links with Pakistan, including joint exercises like Inspired Gambit 2026 on counterterrorism, raising opposition fears of leaked operational intel. Still, New Delhi’s controlled engagements enhance deterrence without ceding sovereignty in the Indo-Pacific.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: ZEE News
