Date: 08/08/2025
Location: Post 43
Taking a detour from the Dras Kargil highway, our sedan crossed the Shingo river towards LOC. Accompanied by a Colonel,I got the rare opportunity to visit Post 43 without the hassels of approval. By the way any Indian can visit this post but with prior approval.
I visited Longewala and Talot Mata temple few years back, a life time experience that etched in my heart for ever, and few other post in past so I have a pre conceived notion what I am gonna experience, Still seeing soldiers on border has always been a next level of adraline shot for me.
Our civilian car stopped some 500 meters from actual post. Soldiers were practicing with surveillance drones and logistic drone under extremely hot sun. All doned up in uniform but without any badge. Cant figure out their identities. The firing range, a drone landing zone, Shengo river flowing by the side and Dust and sweat clad soldiers doing their assinged tasks, I am pretty sure what fascinated me the most was the latter.
I am not writing this post to explain what I saw there in terms of technicalities, cant do it here.. but instead I am writing this for the person who escorted us. Since this is the place I wish to introduce the to the world, personalities that touched my soul.
Fully aware I am a civilian accompanied by a Colonel, this Fauzi was careful not to disclose anything of national importance while reporting to his senior.
A smart young Major, without any head covering or cap, guiding his team with drones under scorching hot sun turned towards us when we approached. He verified the identities and then showed us demo of both drones. He then took us to the post briefing about the place, and showing the loc post between India and Pakistan with just 17 meters of gap between the two. He narrated the history of the post, how such strategic post was just handed over to Pakistan during Tashken.
After listening to the story and standing there, I knew the politicians who signed the Tashken treaty have absolutly 0% idea where this place resides. The geoprahical importance of this valley and the edge it can give to Pakistan.
He then showed us and explained all post with high end binoculars. I was informed that today POK will report that 2 civilians visited the site and "right now as we speak there are few guns aimed at you".
To summarize my visit, what impressed me the most was his accurate explaination, his body posture, confident clear understanding of the place and all linked incidents... i was able to follow his explainations and stories untill the time he pointed out a bunker in POK. I was lost because all I can see was rocks.. He didnt gave up..and made sure I got the right location. He tried to pin point it using words, everytime a different explaination, untill he said " let me follow your gaze" he followed it and said "11 oclock up where u are looking".. and I saw the bunker.
This was my first experience with a soldier on duty at LOC in direct sight of enemy gun.
That one moment I saw the bunker, I had a feeling I am never gonna forget this moment, this visit and this young vibrant man securing Post 43.
" The Major at Post 43"
