The Kargil War began when Pakistani troops unexpectedly infiltrated Indian territory in 1999, catching India off guard with regular army units.
Fought at altitudes over 18,000 feet, the war posed severe challenges due to thin air, extreme cold, and treacherous terrain, testing both sides' endurance and logistics.
Kargil's location along the Line of Control (LoC) made it strategically crucial for influencing future negotiations and territorial claims between India and Pakistan.
The Indian Air Force's airstrikes on Pakistani positions played a critical role in shifting momentum during the war, showcasing the importance of air superiority.
The international community, including the US, Russia, and UK, actively mediated to de-escalate tensions and resolve the conflict diplomatically.
Soldiers engaged in intense hand-to-hand combat in Kargil's rugged terrain, highlighting the brutality and physical demands of the conflict.
Extensive media coverage brought the realities of war into homes, influencing public opinion and policy decisions in both India and Pakistan.
Despite hostilities, India returned captured Pakistani soldiers post-war, signaling adherence to international humanitarian norms.
Hundreds of soldiers from both sides lost their lives during the conflict, underscoring its human toll and impact on military strategies.
"Kargil Vijay Diwas," observed annually on July 26th in India, honors the soldiers' sacrifices and reaffirms national security importance.
Kargil is equidistant between Srinagar (Southwest) and Leh (Southeast). It is called the gateway to Kashmir. The town itself lies in the Zanskar range of the Himalayas and is the line of control between the portion of Kashmir region administered by India and Pakistan. That is why it became a strategic target for the Pakistani army in its fresh attempt to launch a coup in Jammu and Kashmir. The conflict that began in May 1999, culminated in an Indian victory under Operation Vijay, when the Indian soldiers captured the mountain heights occupied by the Pakistani Army on Jul 26, 1999. This is known as the Kargil War.
India and Pakistan have had sporadic wars and spats over Jammu and Kashmir since the war of 1971. When both countries conducted nuclear tests in 1998, the tensions were further escalated. In February 1999 the two countries signed the Lahore Declaration as a promise to find a peaceful bilateral solution to the Kashmir conflict. Meanwhile, in the winter of 1998-99, the Pakistani army secretly started training and sending troops near Kargil. They aimed to capture the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest army post. Instead of owning their identity as Pakistani army men, the soldiers identified themselves as Mujahideen to draw international attention and pressure on the Indian Army. They wanted to force the Indian army to withdraw from Siachen Glacier and force India to renegotiate the Pakistan dispute.
It started on 3rd May 1999 when Pakistani soldiers infiltrated and captured the high-altitude mountainous region of Kargil with 5000 soldiers. Under what they called Operation Badr, Pakistani armed forces and paramilitary forces captured the Siachen Glacier to stir conflict in the zone and make Kashmir an international conflict zone that required speedy resolution. The war was fought at extremely high altitudes with some battlegrounds reaching the heights of 18000 feet where weather conditions are harsh and the terrain is unpredictable. Pakistan did attract international attention because this war was being fought between two nuclear states.
The IAF launched the ground attack with the MiG-2Is, MiG-23s, MiG-27s, Jaguars, and the Mirage-2000. The MiG 21 mainly did the air inception with a secondary role of ground attack and the MiG-23s and 27s were optimised for attack targets on the ground. In the Operation Safed Sagar of the war, IAF’s MiG-21s and Mirage 2000 were used extensively.
About two lakh fifty thousand shells, bombs and rockets were fired. Every day, approximately 5000 artillery shells and mortar bombs were fired from 300 guns, mortars and MBRLs. On the day Tiger Hill was reclaimed, 9000 shells were fired. It is said that was the only war after World War II to see such a large bombardment carried out on the enemy line.
The international community took notice of the Kargil War, first because of the apprehension around the use of nuclear weaponry. However, more than targeting India, they urged Pakistan to de-escalate the situation by withdrawing their armed forces. Over 500 Indian and 1000 Pakistani soldiers lost their lives in this war. This was the first Indian war to get extensive media coverage. It was the first war to be shot live and telecasted on Indian television. Many Indian soldiers earned gallantry awards for showing valour during the war. 11 Maha Vir Chakras were awarded. Captain Vikram Batra and Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey (posthumously), Rifleman Sanjay Kumar and Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav were awarded the Param Vir Chakras for their heroic role in the war.
The Kargil War was fought between 8 May 1999 and 26 July 1999. The Indian armed forces successfully ousted Pakistani infiltrators from the fortified defences overlooking NH 1A in Kargil's Drass and Batalik Sectors of the Ladakh region. They thus overthrew Pakistan’s nefarious intent of dominating the military and civil movement on the highway. Kargil Diwas is celebrated every year to commemorate India’s victory on this date. This year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this hard-won victory.
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