Indian army shares Upendra Dwivedi-Kazakhstan's counterpart photos, internet spots this painting

The painting of Pakistani army surrender of 1971 in the background (Image: X/@adgpi)

A photograph shared on X during a recent high-level military meeting between India and Kazakhstan has drawn attention online, as it prominently features the iconic mural of the 1971 India-Pakistan war surrender in the background.

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi met Major General Mereke Kuchekbayev, Chief of Land Forces of Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the United Nations Chiefs of the Counter-Terrorism Conference (UNTCC) 2025.

The Indian Army shared the image of the meeting on X from its official handle and wrote, "On the sidelines of the #UNTCC2025, #GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS met with Major General Mereke Kuchekbayev, Chief of Land Forces, Kazakhstan."

The post said that the meeting reaffirmed the enduring defence partnership between the India and Kazakhstan, with a focus on training cooperation, capacity building and continued engagement for regional peace and stability.

The mural hanging on the wall in the background caught attention online due to its historic significance and the heritage of Indian Armed Forces.

The iconic 1971 painting

According to the Indian Army, the painting is a testament to one of the greatest military victories of Indian Armed Forces and the commitment of India for justice & humanity for all.

The famous photograph shows Pakistan’s Lt-General AAK Niazi signing the Instrument of Surrender in December 1971, sitting alongside Lt General Jagjit Singh Aurora and others.

On the sidelines of #UNTCC2025, #GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS, held a bilateral with Colonel Kalmataev Kumarbek Murzabekovich, Acting Chief of General Staff, Kyrgyzstan. The leaders discussed enhancing training cooperation, strengthening defence dialogue and expanding… pic.twitter.com/9WDoCNCfON

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— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 14, 2025

The photograph was shifted in December last year to the Manekshaw Convention Centre in Delhi, a move that sparked criticism among some Army veterans. It used to be a prominent feature in the Army Chief’s office in Raisina Hills.

Defending the decision, Dwivedi had said that the change was part of a broader effort to reflect India’s historical and military evolution.

The 1971 war between India and Pakistan saw Bangladesh liberated and over 93,000 Pakistani troops surrender to the Indian Army on December 16.

The war was fought on both the western and eastern fronts with Pakistan signing the instrument of surrender in just over 2 weeks.