Year 2020 marks the 21st anniversary of victory in ‘Operation Vijay’, popularly known as the ‘Kargil War’. The Kargil War is a saga of strong political, military and diplomatic actions.
The Kargil War will always be remembered for its strategic and tactical surprises, the self-imposed national strategy of restraint in keeping the war limited to Kargil-Siachen sectors, and the swiftly executed tri-services military strategy and plans. It will also be remembered for the determination and daring junior leadership and the raw courage of our jawans at tactical level. This day is dedicated to the martyred soldiers of the Kargil war.
India and Pakistan fought three wars since they were granted independence in 1947 but out of all these wars, there is one such war that always remains in the recent memory and that is Kargil war which witnessed large scale loss of lives on both sides.
History of Kargil War
Kargil was the part of Baltistan district of Ladakh before the partition of India 1947 and was separated by the LOC after the first Kashmir War (1947-1948).
After the Indo-Pak War in 1971, saw a relative decline in direct armed conflicts between both countries with military involvement. India and Pakistan were both looking to control the Siachen Glacier region by putting up military outposts in the nearby mountains ridges and as a result there were small-scale military altercations during the 1980s. Siachen glacier was considered to be an important geographical location for both the nations. The situation became hostile between both the countries; in order to ease the growing tension amongst India-Pakistan both countries signed Lahore Declaration in February of 1999.
During the 1998-99, covert agents of Pakistan Army were training and infiltrating paramilitary forces and some troops disguised as ‘mujahideens’ to the other side of the Line of Control (LoC). The ‘Operation Badr’ aimed to create disruption in the Kashmir valley and severe the links between the valley and Ladakh region, to coerce the Indian army to withdraw troops from Siachen glacier region, while forcing them to settle the Kashmir issue through negotiations.
Indian government had issued an order to mobilize 200,000 army personnel in the belligerent region, named the operation as ‘Operation Vijay’. Pakistani forces had covered 130 km2 to 200 km2, and Indian troops became aware that situation needs to be brought under controlled.
On July 26th 1999, Indian troops captured the highest outposts in the Kargil-Dras region, thus, marking an end to 2 months long military conflict, successfully completed the ‘Operation Vijay’ and thus marking it as Kargil Vijay Diwas. 527 soldiers from Indian Armed Forces lost their lives during the war.
The Honored Fighters of Kargil War
Kargil War was the first war to be covered by Indian journalists from the location of war directly. Several Men of Honour fought valiantly against the Pakistani army, some stayed and saw the tricolor unfurled at the top the highest Indian Military check post. Several army personnel were wounded, while some had achieved martyrdom.
Here is a list of Gallantry Award winners for their contribution in protecting the nation:
Timeline of Kargil War!
May 3: Pakistani intrusion in Kargil reported by local shepherds
May 5: Indian Army patrol sent up to check; five Indian soldiers were captured and tortured to death.
May 9: Heavy shelling by Pakistan Army damaged ammunition dump in Kargil
May 10: Infiltrations were first noticed in Dras, Kaksar, and Mushkoh sectors
By mid-May, Indian Army moved in more troops from Kashmir Valley to Kargil Sector
May 26: IAF launched air strikes against infiltrators
May 27: The IAF lost two fighters – MiG-21 and MiG-27;. Flt Lt Nachiketa was taken POW
May 28: IAF MI-17 shot down by Pakistan; four air crew were killed in the attack.
June 1: Pakistan stepped up attacks; bombed NH 1
June 5: Indian Army released documents recovered from three Pakistani soldiers indicating Pakistan’s involvement
June 6: Indian Army launched major offensive in Kargil
June 9: Indian Army re-captured two key positions in the Batalic sector
June 11: India released intercepts of conversation between Pakistani Army Chief Gen Pervez Musharraf, while on a visit to China and Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Aziz Khan in Rawalpindi, as proof of Pakistani Army’s involvement
June 13: Indian Army secured Tololing in Dras
June 15: US President Bill Clinton, in a telephonic conversation, asked Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to pull out from Kargil
June 29: Indian Army captured Point 5060 and Point 5100 near Tiger Hill
July 2: Indian Army launched three-pronged attack in Kargil
July 4: Indian Army recaptured Tiger Hill after an 11-hour battle
July 5: Indian Army took control of Dras. Sharif announced Pakistani army’s withdrawal from Kargil following his meeting with Clinton
July 7: India recaptured Jubar Heights in Batalik
July 11: Pakistan began pullout; India captured key peaks in Batalik
July 14: Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared Operation Vijay a success. Government set condition for talks with Pakistan
July 16: Kargil conflict officially came to an end with the Indian Army announcing complete eviction of Pakistani intruders.
July 26 -Kargil war comes to an end. India announces complete eviction of Pakistani troops from Indian territory.
