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WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2017 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior Remembering Kargil Kargil war Established 1965 Harsha Kakar where an army chief whose forces were defeat- Dr Ganesh Malhotra Mashkoh Valley, was re-captured on July 7, 1999. Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra ed and compelled to withdraw, solely to save Point 4875 has since been re-named "Gun Hill" in ay to Jul 1999, the Indian army fought face, became president of the country. t has been 18 years that the Indian Army is cel- honour of the stupendous performance of the ebrating Kargil Vijay Diwas since July 26, 1999 its last major conflict with Pakistan, Logically, he should have been forced to tender Gunners in the Drass and Mashkoh sub-sectors. to remember all those who fought and partici- Mthrust down by Parvez Musharraf as in his resignation as he led his army into defeat, I Ground troops were supported by the Air Force Saving Gharana wetland pated in that Operation. It was on this day that the its army chief. There is no doubt that we had let but such is the power of the deep state. The tried to contain the threat, assessed the enemy dis- our guard down enabling Pak to infiltrate and Army declared with finality that every single positions and carried out various preparatory fter years of uncertainty and anxiety there Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, neither had the Pakistani intruder had been thrown out of Kargil establish positions at heights which most armies power nor the guts to demand his resignation. actions. Entry of the Air Force into combat action appears a flicker of hope that the famous would think twice about recapturing. That was heights. on May 26 represented a paradigm shift in the Had he demanded it, the nation would have There had been a sort of "gentleman agreement" Gharana Wetland in RS Pura may be saved exactly Pak's thoughts too and they were con- known the truth and the army shamed. It was an nature and prognosis of the conflict. In operation A vinced that India would neither attempt and between India and Pakistan that the armies of either and revived to its original glory, thanks to the orders opportunity for re-establishing political control Safed Sagar, the Air Force carried out nearly 5,000 even if they did, not succeed. However, India side will not occupy posts from the 15 September to sorties of all types over 50-odd days of operations. of the Division Bench of State High Court. Close to over the army, which was lost forever. 15th April of each year. This had been the case showed to the world the grit and determination For Indians, it was a war brought into dining The role of Ladakh Scouts was beyond capacity Suchetgarh in RS Pura, a large patch of land has of its soldiers, as one by one, they recaptured the since 1977, but in 1999 this agreement was put and its available logistics particularly the innate rooms as newscasters broadcast it live, inter- aside by the Pakistani army in hopes of trying to served as the wetland for the cranes and other heights, irrespective of cost. viewing those returning from successful opera- knowledge of the terrain of the whole area. On 30th A nation which cares for its soldiers never gain the upper hand in Kashmir and putting the May Major Sonam Wangchuk of Indus Wing, species of birds that come from distant Siberian tions, while covering the last rites of those who Indian subcontinent in brief and limited war. hides its casualty details and respects its fallen Ladakh Scouts was assigned to occupy Ridge Line sacrificed their lives.Some TV commentators Pakistan's military intrusions were to exploit the region in Russia during winter. After spending two or comrades, which India never hesitated to do. at a height of about 5500 m to pre-empt any possi- became household names, covering the war. The large gaps that exist in the defences in the sector three months of winter these birds return to their The Pak army on the other hand, never informed bility of occupation by Pakistan forces. He took nation stood together and large crowds attended- both on Indian and Pak side of the Line of Control stock of all forces in the Chorbatla axis in the original places in Siberian region. the nation about its casualties, nor accepted its final rites of valiant soldiers who sacrificed their (LoC). During winters the area gets very heavy fallen comrades. Most were buried with military Batalik sector and cleared the axis up to the LoC of At last the Revenue officers have demarcated the lives. Quotes such as 'Yeh Dil Maange more', snowfall making movement almost impossible. The all enemy intrusions at a great risk to his life. In yet honours by the Indian army. It continues to hide 'Either I will come back after hoisting the tiran- only mountain pass connecting the Kargil area to actual area of the Gharana wetland which is 97.17 details of casualties along the LoC even today, another simultaneous gallant operation in Batalik kanals. Encroachments had reduced it to mere 12 ga or wrapped in it, but I will be back for sure' the Kashmir Valley, Zoji La, normally opens by the sector ,operation launched by the gallant soldiers of this time officially refusing to share, claiming it and 'If death strikes before I prove my blood, I end of May or beginning of June. Thus, moving of kanals. For years at end, neither the Revenue nor would benefit India. Ladakh Scouts, Dog Hill, which is to the West of will kill death itself' are today well-known. reinforcements by surface means from Srinagar is Point 5000, had also been captured on night 05/06 the Wild Life Department took any steps to stop ille- The Kargil war opened Indian eyes on what The Indian army showed its mettle once not possible till then. Pakistan Army calculated that could happen if there is any laxity in matters July1999. In this operation, six enemy soldiers had gal encroachment of the Gharana Wetland by the again. Irrespective of odds and difficulties, it even if the intrusions were discovered in early May, been killed and two Heavy Machine Guns, one concerning national security. This wake-up call had to succeed. Shortfall of equipment was as they were, the Indian Army's reaction would be Sniper Rifle and two G-3 Rifles along with large locals. Now the Division Bench has ordered Wild Life has changed Indian response for ever. The never a stumbling block. The officer-men casu- slow and limited. This will allow Pakistan to con- quantity of ammunition had been recovered. These Department to fence the entire demarcated area of standoffs in Ladakh and now in the Doklam alty figures proved once again, that the young solidate the intrusions more effectively. The intru- were two of major successes achieved by Ladakh 97.17 kanals and protect it from flood waters for plateau are the result of an ever-alert army. officer lot will always produce results, despite sions would enable Pakistani troops to secure a Scouts in Kargil operation which weather forecasts would be pressed into serv- Indian deployment at the heights of Kargil, ear- odds. The nation realized that it can always bank number of dominating heights from where the Ladakh Scouts is a 4,000-man paramilitary unit lier vacated in winters, is now all year strategic Srinagar-Leh NH1A could be interdicted ice. on its army to succeed, irrespective of cost. of local Buddhists and Tibetan commandos. round.What was once considered as logistically The Kargil war was fought by an organiza- at a number of places. The intrusions would also History of Ladakh Scout dates back to 1963. It was The most important thing is that the ecological draw in and tie down Indian Army reserves. The unsustainable is now being managed, albeit with tion created for the fifties and sixties. It suc- raised on 1st June 1963, following the 1962 Indo- intrusions would, further, give Pakistan control balance of the wetlands has to be maintained. The some difficulty. ceeded solely because of the grit and determina- China War, with just eight companies taken from villagers of the area are depositing cow dung and Indian shortfall in equipment came to the over substantial tracts of strategic land area across the 7th and14th Battalions of the Jammu & tion of the soldier on the ground and the fact that the LoC. The intrusions would irrevocably alter the garbage on the sides of the wetland and it creates fore. Not much had changed till a change in it was limited in content. The organization at the Kashmir Militia. The main task of regiment was to Government. The UPA, with Anthony as the status of the LoC. guard India's borders in the high altitude areas of pollution of the water in the wetland. This has to be apex lacked cohesion, coordination and integra- Indian Army's launched Operation Vijay Defence Minister, refused to sign new contracts tion. There were disagreements between the the Ladakh region. They were also known asthe stopped. Entire environment has to be kept clean. for weapons, fearing kickbacks behind every launched on May 26, 1999. Indian troops moved "Snow Warriors"They are also affectionately called army and the air force on the manner of engag- towards Pakistani occupied positions with air cover Therefore, the court has issued instructions to the deal. It took a change of Government at the cen- ing targets. It led to the Government forming a " Nunoos", as the Ladakhis , are skilled mountain provided by aircraft and helicopters.

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