KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS “Kya Log the Woh Deewane Kya Log the Woh Abhimaani Jo Shahid Hue Hai Unki Zaara Yaad Karo Kurbani”. I would like to start my article by saluting all the brave hearts who fought like a lion and stood strong to protect our mother India. It has been 22 years since India won the war against Pakistan at Kargil in Kashmir on26th July 1999. Since it has been observed as the Kargil Vijay Diwas. Our country heroes have given full efforts to get back our land which was dominated by Pakistanis. The Kargil battlefield is one of the dangerous and highest battlegrounds in the world it was fought in the Tiger Hill region located in the Kargil town 205 km away from Srinagar. Pakistani wanted to cut connections between Ladakh and Kashmir and later occupy Kashmir. The nights of Kashmir are long and the temperature used to drop -48 degrees Celsius. Pre-war scenario of the kargil War During 1998-99 the Pakistani Army started sending troops near Kargil to dominate the region to claim Siachen Glacier. Pakistani Army denied that they were not Pakistani soldiers but the Mujahidin they wanted to have international attention on the dispute so that India would be pressurized to withdraw its army from the Siachen Glacier region and force India to negotiate with Indian for Kashmir. Later it was observed that Kashmiri militants were also involved and the battle was at a high altitude and created a logistical problem for Indians to carry arms and other materials. India Fights Back The Pakistani Army crossed the LOC (Line of Control) and entered the region controlled by India. The local shepherds informed the army that there is something wrong some suspicious people are crossing the LOC. After hearing that the Indian Army sent troops to take a deeper look into it and then they came to know that the Pakistani army has crossed the LOC and entered India controlled region and both the soldiers started firing to claim the land. Later the Indian Air Force also joined the war of cleansing all the intruders from the valley. “Operation Vijay” was planned to clear out the Kargil sector. The Indian Air Force also joined Indian Army ground troops during the war and was aimed to flush out the irregular and regular troops of the Pakistani Army from vacated Indian positions along with LOC. This particular operation was given the name of “Operation Safed Sagar”. During this initial state, Pakistan blamed the fighting entirely on independent Kashmiri insurgents, but the documents showed the involvement of Pakistani paramilitary forces led by General Ashraf Rashid. The Indian Army supported by Indian Air Force recaptured the majority sides of Indian sides of LOC and the Pakistani Army withdrew from the Indian positions. This war is an example of high warfare in mountainous terrain. To remember our victory over Pakistan Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated. Let us honor each and every soldier and salute their bravery and their courage towards our country. They are our Pride. We must salute our heroes for their noble sacrifice that has brought “Vijay Diwas” upon us. JAI HIND! Article Written By:- SUO Riya Ram Regimental No.:- WB18SWA193183 Unit:-5 Bengal Girls’ BN NCC College Name:-Durgapur Women’s College Burdwan Group, West Bengal and Sikkim Directorate .