Battle Honours

The J&K Rifles is a unique Indian Regiment. It is historic regiment (dating back to 1821) that was not raised by the British but by an intrepid Indian ruler called Gulab Singh. He was one of the ablest Generals of Maharaj Ranjit Singh and later became ruler of the J&K State. He and his legendary General Zorawar Singh led many spectacular campaigns to add Ladakh, Baltistan, Hunza and Skardu to the State territories. Zorawar Singh mounted a breath-taking invasion of Tibet in 1841. The state forces fought as Imperial Service Troops in both the World Wars (under their own native officers). They distinguished themselves in East Africa, Palestine and Burma.

Their grimmest hour came in 1947-48 Pakistani invasion of Kashmir. It was their heroic stand that gained time for the entry of the Indian Army and thus saved the Valley of Kashmir. They paid a steep price in blood and sacrificed over 76 Officers, 31 JCOs and 1085 Other Ranks. For their gallant stand they earned three Maha Vir Chakras, 20 Vir Chakras and

52 Mentioned-in-Despatches.

The J&K State Forces are the only erstwhile princely state forces of India to be absorbed en bloc into the Indian Army as distinct and a separate regiment. In 1963 the designation was changed to JAMMU & KASHMIR RIFLES. After conversion, the LADAKH SCOUTS came under the aegis of the regiment. During the recent Kargil conflict, they created a unprecedented record of sorts when 13 JAK RIF won two Param Vir Chakras, the highest gallantry award, in a single campaign. LADAKH SCOUTS have recently acquired the status of a regiment.

The regiment has a class composition of 75 Dogras and Gorkhas, Sikhs and Muslims forming the other 25 percent.

Africa

Megiddo (1914 – 18) and Beho – Beho (1914 – 18)

West Asia

Nablus (1914 – 18), Sharon (1914 – 18), Kilimanjaro (1914 – 18), Palestine (1918) and Kennedy Peak (1944)

Indian Subcontinent

Ladakh (1834 – 40), Baltistan (1840), Tibet (1941), Gilgit (1860), Yasin (1863), Darel (1866), Hunza & Nagar (1891 – 92), Chilas (1893), Chitral (1895), , Kennedy Peak (1938 – 45), Meiktila (1945), Poonch (1947 – 48), Skardu (1947 – 48), Asal Uttar (1965), Syam Ganj (1971), Dras (1999) and Mushkoh (1999)

Theatre Honours

East Africa (1914 – 16), East Africa (1916 – 18), 3rd Afghan War (1919 – 20), Burma (1942 – 45), J&K (1947 – 48), Punjab (1965), East Pakistan (1971) and Kargil (1999).