Kargil Vijay Diwas – 1999 War
Kargil Vijay Diwas – 1999 War
Commemoration Day: 26 July
Operation: Operation Vijay
Martyrs: 533
Awards: 4 PVC, 9 MVC, 27 VrC
Kargil Vijay Diwas – 1999 War
Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 26th July every year to commemorate the success of Operation Vijay, under which on this day, in 1999 India successfully took command of all the high outposts in the Kargil region which were being held by the Pakistani intruders.
In the winter months of 1998 and early 1999, militants in the guise of Mujahideen were covertly trained by the Pakistani armed forces and sent to the Indian side of the LOC. They captured some of the unguarded posts in the region and aimed to seize control over Kargil sector, which would enable them to cut off the supply route between Srinagar and Ladakh and take control of the Siachin region. The intrusion was detected in the month of May and patrols were sent to check and control them. By the time India realized Pakistan’s hand behind the infiltrations, they had captured many posts in the Drass, Kaksar and Mushkoh regions. Operation Vijay was then launched by the government to clear the area from infiltrators.
The air force too launched a mission called Safed Sagar to help in the mobilization of the army. The army set out to recapture the areas along the national highway 1D, which was the main supply route between Ladakh and Kashmir. The Indian army attacked the intruders who held well-fortified positions in the Tololing region. The 2nd Rajputana Rifles along with the 18 Grenadiers laid out a three-week assault that culminated in the recapture of the Tololing region, claiming 23 Indian lives in the process. The Indian army had captured a strategically important position and it took them a further six days to clear out the enemy troops from the nearby areas and take control of the Drass sector. The Indian troops moved forward by capturing the strategic peaks and advanced towards Tiger Hills. Tiger Hills was the highest peak in the Kargil region. Treacherous terrain and well-entrenched enemy in the region posed difficulties to the army. Many battles were fought between June and July to capture strategic locations that would facilitate the capture of Tiger hills. On July 4, 1999 the 18 Grenadiers captured the coveted hills after a fierce battle that lasted about 11 hours at the peak of Tiger Hills. This was a very important turn of events for the Indian troops and victory was in sight for them.
The then Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif sought help from the United States of America, without much avail. He then agreed to withdraw Pakistani troops from the Indian side of the LOC, owing to International pressure. India carried its final assault in the last week of July and cleared the Drass subsector from infiltrators entirely by July 26. The battle had been won and operation Vijay was deemed successful.
The Kargil war victory was made possible by the heroic efforts of our troops, with various gallantry awards winners, among them, four Param Vir Chakra, nine Maha vir Chakra and several Vir Chakra winners, setting new benchmarks for bravery and service to the nation. The war had large number of causalities from both sides and India lost 527 of its brave soldiers in this campaign. We salute and remember the sacrifices of these valiant souls of India on this day.
There were three major phases to the Kargil War. First, Pakistan infiltrated forces into the Indian-controlled section of Kashmir and occupied strategic locations enabling it to bring NH1 within range of its artillery fire. The next stage consisted of India discovering the infiltration and mobilizing forces to respond to it. The final stage involved major battles by Indian and Pakistani forces resulting in India recapturing most of the territories held by Pakistani forces and the subsequent withdrawal of Pakistani forces back across the Line of Control after international pressure
Occupation by Pakistan
Date(1999) | Event |
---|---|
03-May | Pakistani intrusion in Kargil reported by local shepherds |
05-May | Indian Army patrol sent up; Five Indian soldiers captured and tortured to death. |
09-May | Heavy shelling by Pakistan Army damages ammunition dump in Kargil |
10-May | Infiltrations first noticed in Dras, Kaksar, and Mushkoh sectors |
Mid-May | Indian Army moves in more troops from Kashmir Valley to Kargil Sector |
26-May | IAF launches air strikes against infiltrators |
27-May | IAF loses two fighters – MiG-21 and MiG-27;. Flt Lt Nachiketa taken POW |
28-May | IAF MI-17 shot down by Pakistan; four air crew dead |
01-Jun | Pakistan steps up attacks; bombs NH 1A |
05-Jun | Indian Army releases documents recovered from three Pakistani soldiers indicating Pakistan’s involvement |
06-Jun | Indian Army launches major offensive in Kargil |
09-Jun | Indian Army re-captures two key positions in the Batalic sector |
11-Jun | India releases intercepts of conversation between Pakistani Army Chief Gen Pervez Musharraf, while on a visit to China and Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Aziz Khan in Rawalpindi, as proof of Pakistani Army’s involvement |
13-Jun | Indian Army secures Tololing in Dras |
15-Jun | U.S. President Bill Clinton, in a telephonic conversation, asks Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to pull out from Kargil |
29-Jun | Indian Army captures two vital posts: Point 5060 and Point 5100 near Tiger Hill |
02-Jul | Indian Army launches three-pronged attack in Kargil |
04-Jul | Indian Army recaptures Tiger Hill after an 11-hour battle |
05-Jul | Indian Army takes control of Dras. Sharif announces Pakistani army’s withdrawal from Kargil following his meeting with Clinton |
07-Jul | India recaptures Jubar Heights in Batalik |
11-Jul | Pakistan begins pullout; India captures key peaks in Batalik |
14-Jul | Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declares Operation Vijay a success. Government sets condition for talks with Pakistan |
26-Jul | Kargil conflict officially comes to an end. Indian Army announces complete eviction of Pakistani intruders. |
Param Vir Chakra | Maha Vir Chakra | Vir Chakra |
---|---|---|
Capt. Vikram Batra, 13 JAK Rifles (Posthumous) | Maj. Vivek Gupta, 2 Raj Rif(Posthumous) | Col Umesh Singh Bawa, |
Lt. Manoj Kumar Pandey, 1/11 GR(Posthumous) | Maj. Padmapani Acharya, 2 Raj Rif(Posthumous) | Col Lalit Rai, |
Grenedier Yogender Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers | Capt. N Kenguruse, 2 Raj Rif(Posthumous) | Col M.B. Ravindranath |
Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, 13 JAK Rifles | Naik Digendra Kumar, 2 Rajputana Rifles | Lt Col Yogesh Kumar Joshi, |
Maj. Rajesh Singh Adhikari, 18 Grenadiers(Posthumous) | Maj S. Vijay Bhaskar, | |
Lt. Balwan Singh, 18 Grenadiers | Maj Deepak Rampal, | |
Capt. Anuj Nayyar, 17 Jat(Posthumous) | Maj Vikas Vohra, | |
Lt. Keshing Clifford Nongrum, 12 JAK LI(Posthumous) | Maj Amrinder Singh Kasana, | |
Major Sonam Wangchuk, Ladakh Scouts | Maj Rajesh Sah, | |
Maj Mohit Saxena, | ||
Maj M. Saravanan (posthumous), | ||
Capt Shyamal Sinha. | ||
Capt Amol Kalia (posthumous), | ||
Capt Sachin Annarao Nimbalkar, | ||
Capt Sanjeev Singh. | ||
Capt Haneef Uddin (posthumous). | ||
Capt Sumeet Roy (posthumous), | ||
Capt Maridhvodan Veetil Sooraj, | ||
Capt Jintu Gogoi (posthumous), | ||
Capt R.Jery Prem Raj (posthumous), | ||
Lt Vijyant Thapar (posthumous), | ||
Sub Chhering Stobdan. | ||
Sub Bahadur Singh (posthumous), | ||
Sub Lobzang Chhotak (posthumous), | ||
Sub Randhir Singh (posthumous), | ||
Sub Bhawar Lal (posthumous), |
Source
- https://en.wikipedia.org
- http://www.thehindu.com
- http://www.indianarmy.nic.in
Disclaimer
Parag Ranjan Dey
2021 at 9:58 amI Salute to all Martyrs who has sacrificed their lives to keep us safe so that we can spend our life peacefully. Always with the soldiers of my Country.
Anupama Sharma
2021 at 10:15 amSalute to all our warriors for your supreme sacrifice . no words are enough to thank family members of martyrs and soldiers as it need lot of courage to send the loved ones to war and in Defense services
Just a message is not enough ..
We as Indian civilians need to value your sacrifices done by you and family and work upon building a great nation by performing our duties well and with full honesty and integrity towards our nation by paying our Taxes ,by Keeping our roads neat and clean, by living in secular society , by not giving and taking bribe , by following rules and regulation set our constitution , by not exploiting the system.
You all have given lives for our nation and I salute you for the same..
Jai Hind
Akshay Shrimali
2021 at 10:31 am‘I Will Either Come Back After Raising The Indian Tricolour In The Victory or Return Wrapped in it, but I Will Come For Sure.’
-Late Captain Vikram Batra.
A Grand Salutation To All The Soldiers Who Sacrificed Their Lives While Serving The Nation ,No Words Can Explain Their Sacrifice ,Service And Courage You Have Made.
They Are The Real Heroes of The Nation.
Jai Hind.
Arman Arora
2021 at 7:55 pmIt takes huge courage to stand up for your country and keep it safe. All of you make me feel so proud that I am part of this beautiful country India. You all complete us and shall continue to live forever. You guys are heroes! Thank you for providing me the freedom to live the life God has so graciously given to us. Thank you so much for everything you did for this country and its people! A huge Salute to you and your beautiful families who have made every second count. Jai Hind! 😀
Geeta Routray
2021 at 9:49 amDear families of martyrs,
My heartfelt salute and respect to the famile who have bought up this heroes and have sacrificed their family member for security of our country. I can understand how the reserve force JK rifles has helped to close the Kargil war. Small team climbing around 17000 ft and fighting against all odds. We salute the spirit and bravery of all involved in Kargil war.
RITESH CHORDIYA
2021 at 9:50 amWith joined both hands many Salutes to all our warriors for Great sacrifice .
The most painful Words ,” JO LAUT KE GHAR NA AAYE.” really heartfelt for the family members who are still waiting for return of our great hero.
Many people say we ae proud of our hero that they sacrifice their lives but i would like to pray to supreme almighty that there should not be war in world. People should learn to live in peace.
In my words i will only Say, ” MANAV SE MANV NA HO JUDA,BHAI SE BHAI NA HO JUDA, MAA SE BETA NA HO JUDA, BAS YAHI HAI DUA”
akash pade
2021 at 10:06 amI salute to all brave hearts of our nation. You are the real heros of our life. Because of all our indian soldiers, we are safely living in our country.
I wish your family with all health, progress and wealth.
Pooja
2021 at 10:08 amNo words can explain your courage, your bravery , big salute to you as well as your families. I remember the time of Kargil war, that was very horrible time for all Indians.
But we are proud to our armed forces, our soldiers always win, our army is our pride,
“East or west our Army is best”
Jai Hind
Dadasaheb Pangavhane
2021 at 10:18 amHero’s take on many forms, but anyone who served their country with such pride and distinction is without a doubt a hero. May they never be forgotten.
Salute Indian flag and Indian warriors like you who have dedicated entire life for nation. Young India should be inspired by your bravery. My respect and salute to your dedication and brave hearts.
Jay Hind….
Mayura Deepak Pradhan
2021 at 10:32 amTo The Brave Hearts in Uniform,
We don’t know them All, but we owe them all, being born to same Motherland connects us.
You perform your duty that comes with no weekends so that we can enjoy ours.
A BIG SALUTE to the REAL HEROES .
Often I wonder ,how I can ever give back to someone who strives selflessly day and night for our Safety. Thank You can never be enough to acknowledge the selfless intent with which you Love our Country.
Here I take an opportunity to express Gratitude towards all the Soldiers who safeguard billions of smiles ,lives of citizens and protect the Motherland
Salute to the Soldiers.
Salute to the Nation.
JAI HIND!!
Forever Grateful,
Mayura Deepak Pradhan