BY: Cadet Saumya Srivastava Regimental no: DL20SWA903942 UNIT: 3 Girls Battalion Delhi Directorate

College: Motilal Nehru College,

The Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark the end of the Kargil war. The war that lasted 2 months was fought between and mainly in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Both sides lost many brave soldiers and the war came to an end on July 26th,1999. India fought and took command of the outposts that had been lost to Pakistani intruders. Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed in all over India, In , The PM of India pays homage to the soldiers at Amar Jawan Jyoti at every year.

After the Indo-Pak war of 1971, there was a long period with direct armed conflicts relatively fewer involving the military forces of two neighbor countries not with standing the efforts of both nations to control Siachen Glacier by establishing military outposts on surrounding mountains ridges. During 1990’s escalating tensions and conflict due to separatist activities in Kashmir, as well as conducting of nuclear tests by both countries in 1998. In an attempt to defuse the situation, Both the countries signed the Lahore Declaration in February 1999 promising to find a peaceful and bilateral solution to the Kashmir conflict.

During the winter of 1998 and 1999, Some elements of Pakistani armed forces were actually covertly training and sending Pakistan Paramilitary forces and troops into territory of Indian side control (LOC). Infiltration was code named “Operation Badr”. The aim of Pakistan was to link between Kashmir and Ladakh and cause Indian Forces to withdraw from Siachen Glacier, however the Government responded with “Operation Vijay”

In the first week of May, Local shepherds in Kargil noticed unusual movements. The shepherds passed the information to the , Patrols were sent to find out more and they discovered the presence of infiltrators who had occupied strategic heights. In the initial fog it was assumed that the infiltrators were militants and terrorist. It was the only after Indian Army discovered identification tags and diaries from the bodies of intruders, the realization hit home : The intruders were actually jawans and officers of the Pakistan Army. On the Kargil battlefields, The Indian Army ramped up pressure. The Army sent teams to scale mountains and fields, peaks, etc.

The turning point of Kargil War was recapture of Tololing peak. This peak overlooked the Srinagar – Kargil – Leh Highway, The Pakistani enemies took cut strategic highway off. Tololing peak was recaptured by Indian Army in 1999.

While the Kargil War was primarily an army operation. The other two military Arms – and played important supporting roles. The IAF was involved in an offensive capacity with pilots flying at daring heights bombing enemies. The Kargil War conflict continued further next couple of weeks as Indian troops started occupying heights cleared by Pakistani Intruders. By July 26th, India had regained all its posts that had been captured.

“Our flag doesn’t fly because of the blowing wind, It flies with the last breathe of each SOLDIER who died protecting it”. Let’s remember the sacrifices of those brave soldiers who died in the line of duty to protect our MOTHERLAND.