Kargil War hero Lt Gen YK Joshi takes over as head of MEA’s Center for Contemporary China Studies

By Manjeet Negi: Former Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Yogesh Kumar Joshi took over as the Director General of the Center for Contemporary China Studies in the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday. Lt Gen Joshi was awarded the Vir Chakra for leading the 13 JAK Rifles in Operation Vijay (Kargil War). He has done multiple tenures along the China border and has served as Defence Attache to Beijing.

Lieutenant General YK Joshi, was commissioned into the Army’s 13 JAK Rifles unit, which was nicknamed as the “bravest of the brave”, on June 12, 1982 and later commanded the unit.

Lt Gen Yogesh Kumar Joshi is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and a postgraduate from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He attended the National Defence College Course in New Delhi.

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The General Officer has had command experience spanning the entire mosaic, covering all theatres. He commanded 13 JAK Rifles in Operation Vijay and Operation Parakram.

He caught the attention of the nation during the Kargil war with his outstanding leadership under the nickname ‘Joe’ and led his unit to unprecedented success. In Operation Vijay, under his command, the unit was awarded with a total of 37 gallantry awards, including two Param Vir Chakra, eight Vir Chakra and 14 sena medals.

The unit was also awarded with the Chief of Army Staff Unit Citation and the “Bravest of Brave” award.

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Lt Gen Joshi served in Ladakh for a long period as he commanded an infantry brigade in Tangtse, an infantry division in Karu and the Leh-based 14 Corps. He also served as the director general, infantry, and was instrumental in catalysing the modernisation drive of the infantry.

He was the chief of staff of the Northern Command before taking over the reigns of the Northern Command as its commander.

The officer has had tenures as tenures as an instructor at the Infantry School, Mhow and varied staff exposure, including staff appointment at the Military Operations Directorate and as a Defence Attache to Beijing (China). He has also served as a Military Observer in the United Nations, Angola.

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