Every year Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 26 July in honour of the Kargil War’s Heroes. This day is celebrated in the Kargil sector and the national capital New Delhi, where the Prime Minister of India pays homage to the soldiers at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate every year.
Functions are also organized all over the country to commemorate the contributions of the armed forces.
KARGIL WAR
During the summer of May-July 1999, the tedious Kargil War was fought between India and Pakistan. In May 1999, the Pakistan Army infiltrated into Indian territory in remote locations using subterfuge and captured several mountain tops overlooking the strategic Srinagar-Leh highway.
When India sent a survey mission to confirm intrusions into India, five jawans were taken into captivity by the Pakistani Army, triggering an Indian Airforce attack ‘Operation Vijay’.
For the first time in 20 years, India launched strikes against militants in Kashmir beginning ‘Operation Vijay’, promising to continue doing so till the last of the militants were evicted from the Indian soil in Kashmir.
During the continuing airstrike, India lost two of its aircraft (MiG-27) with one pilot who had ejected being taken in as a prisoner of war by the Pakistan troops.
Soon, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declares the Kargil situation – ‘War-like situation’, with IAF continuing its assault on suspected infiltrators holed up in the Himalayas with fresh airstrikes.
As Pakistan returned the mutilated bodies of six Indian soldiers, talks between India and Pakistan broke down while India continued its airstrikes.
On July 26, the Indian Army recaptured all the Indian posts in Kargil which had been occupied by the Pakistani Army, a coup that was orchestrated by the then Pakistan army chief General Pervez Musharraf, while Sharif and US President Bill Clinton meet in Washington to take ‘concrete steps will be taken’ to restore the Line of Control.
Relenting to India’s attacks, Sharif announces pull-out of Pakistani troops from Kargil and India declares ‘ Operation Vijay’ a success – bringing an end to the war on July 26.
Let’s remember & salute the brave sons of India who made supreme sacrifice for motherland.
Jai Hind!
